JPH06162125A - Method and device for command input - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily know the position of a command in its command layer during the execution of the command and to easily execute a command belonging to a module or layer different from the command being executed or a command subordinate to it. CONSTITUTION:A hierarchic menu process part 14 displays a hierarchic menu on the display screen of a display 3 through a menu display control part 12 when specific mouse operation or key operation is performed on an input device 2. The hierarchic menu is displayed hierarchically from a main menu as the top layer to the bottom layer. The hierarchic menu process part 14 performs even a process for selecting and specifying an optional command of the hierarchic menu through mouse operation, etc., and also performs a process for executing the selected and specified command of the hierarchic menu while the hierarchic menu is displayed. A hierarchic menu holding part 15 holds the selection state of the command.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to CAD (computer-aid).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ed design system, and more particularly to a command input method and apparatus capable of improving operability in inputting commands instructing various operations and processes in a CAD system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a CAD system, a so-called menu system is used to input various commands instructing various operations and processes to the system when the system is used. . In this menu system, an index indicating a plurality of commands, such as a command name or an icon (icon), is displayed on the screen of the display,
A desired command is input by designating an index corresponding to the desired command on the command menu with a cursor operated by a pointing device such as a mouse.

Further, in many CAD systems, an extremely large number of commands exist, but when such a large number of commands exist, a command menu having a hierarchical structure over a plurality of hierarchies is used. In other words, if you have a command menu with a hierarchical structure that spans multiple hierarchies, only the top-level command menu, that is, the main menu, is displayed at system startup, and if you select any command from that command menu, the command related to that command is displayed. If there is a subcommand of the next hierarchy, the command menu of the subcommand related to the command is displayed. Furthermore, when an arbitrary command is selected from the command menu, if there is a subcommand in the next layer related to the command, the command menu of the subcommand related to the command is displayed.

As described above, in a menu system having a command menu having a hierarchical structure that extends over a plurality of layers, as long as there are subordinate subcommands associated with the selected command, the command menus of subordinate subcommands are sequentially displayed. If there is no lower subcommand associated with the selected command, the selected command will be executed. In the conventional menu system having a hierarchically structured command menu of a plurality of layers of this kind, a command menu including the name of the command being executed and the command is displayed in a predetermined command area and menu area.

[0005]

As described above, in the menu system having the hierarchically structured command menu in the conventional CAD system, the command name being executed and the command menu including the command have a predetermined command. Although displayed in the command area and menu area, there was no easy way to know the structure of the menu hierarchy from the main menu of this running command. Therefore, if you want to execute a command that belongs to a module or hierarchy different from the command being executed or a command that is dependent on it, execute the "Cancel" command many times to return to the command menu of the higher hierarchy, and then Also had to select the command and then the desired command.

When it is desired to execute a command belonging to a module or a layer different from the command being executed or a command dependent on the command, how many times the "stop" command is executed and the command menu of which layer is returned. Or, after returning to the command menu, it was not easy to predict how many times the command should be selected from the screen display. Therefore, the operator cannot know the structure of the menu hierarchy from the main menu of the command being executed, and the command menu containing the command being executed, unless the operator memorizes the hierarchical structure of the menu system in detail. If you want to execute other commands that are not included in the command menu, how many times do you want to execute the "Cancel" command and what level of command menu should you return to? After returning to that command menu,
Furthermore, it was not possible to predict how many times the command should be selected.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the position of the command in the command hierarchy can be easily known during the execution of the command, and the module or hierarchy different from the command being executed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a command input method and a device capable of easily executing a command belonging to or a command subordinate thereto.

[0008]

A command input method according to the present invention is a CA having a command having a hierarchical structure of a plurality of layers.
When inputting a command in the D system, either a menu display step of displaying a command menu consisting of the index of each command for each layer in a predetermined area of the display screen or an index of each command displayed in the command menu is displayed. By selecting and pointing with the pointing cursor,
When there is a lower layer command in the corresponding command, display the lower command menu one after another,
A command selecting step of repeating the command selection instruction and inputting the corresponding command when there is no command of a lower hierarchy in the command, a command executing step of executing the command input by the command selecting step, and a predetermined command When a command hierarchy menu is instructed to input a command hierarchy menu by inputting the command, and when a command hierarchy menu is instructed by the hierarchy menu specifying step, the command is displayed from the highest hierarchy of the command on the display screen at that time. Either a hierarchical menu display step for displaying a hierarchical menu including substantially all command menus up to the command selected by, or an index of each command displayed in the hierarchical menu displayed in the hierarchical menu display step. With the cursor When there is a command of a lower hierarchy in the corresponding command by switching the command, the command menu portion corresponding to the lower level is switched to the one corresponding to the command and displayed, and the command selecting instruction is repeated, Command to enter the corresponding command when there is no command in the lower hierarchy, and when a command is input in the hierarchical command selection step, the command traced from the previously selected command to the desired command is traced back. And a hierarchical command execution step of selectively executing hierarchical commands up to the input command.

A command input device according to the present invention is a command input device in a CAD system having a command of a hierarchical structure of a plurality of layers, displaying a command menu consisting of an index of each command for each layer in a predetermined area of a display screen. By selecting and instructing one of the indexes of each command displayed in the command menu with the command cursor for performing the command, when the corresponding command has a command in a lower hierarchy, the menu display means The subordinate command menu is sequentially displayed, the command selection instruction is repeated, and when the subordinate command does not exist in the corresponding command, the command selecting means for inputting the corresponding command, and the command selecting means To execute the entered command Command execution means, hierarchical menu instructing means for instructing the display of the command hierarchical menu by a predetermined input operation, and when the hierarchical menu instructing means instructs the display of the command hierarchical menu, the command is displayed on the display screen. A hierarchical menu display means for displaying a hierarchical menu including substantially all command menus from the highest hierarchy to the command currently selected, and a hierarchical menu displayed by the hierarchical menu display means. By selecting and instructing one of the indicators of each displayed command with the instruction cursor,
When a command of a lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, the command menu portion corresponding to the lower hierarchy is switched to be displayed by the hierarchy menu display means, and the selection instruction of the command is repeated. Command when there is no lower hierarchy command, the hierarchy command selecting means for inputting the corresponding command, and when a command is inputted by the hierarchy command selecting means, the required command is selected from the previously selected commands. Hierarchical command executing means for selectively executing hierarchical commands from the traced back to the input command.

[0010]

According to the command input method and apparatus of the present invention, when a command is input in a CAD system having a command of a hierarchical structure of a plurality of layers, a command menu consisting of an index of each command for each layer is displayed in a predetermined area of the display screen. When any of the indices of each command displayed in the command menu is selected and instructed by the instruction cursor, when the command of the lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, the lower command menu is sequentially displayed. Repeat the command selection instruction, input the applicable command when there is no lower level command in the applicable command, execute the command, and instruct by the predetermined input operation to display on the display screen. From the top level of the command to The command hierarchy menu including substantially all command menus up to the command being displayed is displayed, and one of the indicators of each command displayed in the hierarchy menu is selected and instructed by the instruction cursor. When there is a hierarchical command, switch the command menu part corresponding to the lower level to the one corresponding to that command and display it,
Repeat the command selection instruction, enter the applicable command when there is no lower level command in the applicable command, trace back from the previously selected command to the desired command, and then execute the entered command. Since the hierarchical command of the command is selectively executed, the position of the command in the command hierarchy can be easily known during the execution of the command, and the command belonging to the module or the hierarchy different from the command being executed or the command subordinate thereto can be easily performed. Can be executed.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a CAD system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the CAD system of the present embodiment, by performing a predetermined operation during or after the execution of a command, a hierarchical menu showing all the layers from the main menu to the command being executed or immediately before is displayed, and on this hierarchical menu. By selecting an appropriate command with, the command selected on the hierarchical menu can be promptly executed from the current position of the command hierarchy without repeating the cancel operation or the like.

The CAD system shown in FIG. 1 comprises a CAD processing section 1, an input device 2, a display 3, an output device 4 and a storage device 5. The CAD processing unit 1 is a CPU
A central processing unit (not shown) is included and CAD processing including hierarchical menu processing is executed. The input device 2 is
An operation input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse are included, and operation input information by an operator and other external information necessary for CAD processing are input to the CAD processing unit 1. The display 3 displays necessary information such as processed image information by the CAD processing unit 1 and information related to input by the input device 2. The output device 4 includes a plotter, a printer, or the like, and outputs the image information processed by the CAD processing unit 1 as a hard copy. The storage device 5 is composed of, for example, a disk device such as a hard disk device, operates in association with the CAD processing unit 1, and stores data such as image information before processing, after processing, and during processing as necessary. .

In this case, the CAD processing unit 1 uses the normal CA.
In addition to the configuration for executing the D process, the memory / display control unit 11, the menu display control unit 12, and the command selection processing unit 1 for performing the hierarchical menu process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
3, hierarchical menu processing unit 14, hierarchical menu holding unit 1
5, the command execution processing unit 16 and the memory 17 are included. The memory / display control unit 11 controls writing / reading of the memory 17 in which drawing data and the like are stored and control of display by the display 3. Under the control of the memory / display control unit 11, reading / writing (including deletion and rewriting) of character / graphic information being edited with respect to the memory 17 is performed, and at the same time, it corresponds to the content stored in the memory 17 on the screen of the display 3. Images and characters such as drawing data are displayed.

The menu display control unit 12 causes the memory / display control unit 11 to display a menu, which is an index of each command in the CAD system, in a predetermined area on the display screen of the display 3. In this case, the commands in the CAD system have a hierarchical structure, and the menu of commands displayed by the menu display control unit 12 is also hierarchically structured accordingly. The menu display control unit 12 displays the menu of commands according to the hierarchical structure of the menu. That is, when a command is selected in a certain menu, a submenu of the next layer (subcommand menu) is selected according to the selection.
If there is, its submenu is displayed. The display area of such a menu on the display screen of the display 3 is not necessarily constant, but is preset according to the displayed menu.

The command selection processing unit 13 performs a process for an operator to select and input a command as desired by a menu on the display screen of the display 3 by an interactive operation with the screen of the display 3, for example. Therefore, the command selection processing unit 13 controls the memory / display control unit 11 as necessary. The hierarchical menu processing unit 14
At any time during or after command execution,
When a predetermined mouse operation or key operation of the input device 2 is performed, a hierarchical menu is displayed near the cursor position on the display screen of the display 3 via the menu display control unit 12.

This hierarchical menu is displayed even during or after the execution of the command of the lowest hierarchy of the menu hierarchy.
In order to understand all the menu layers from the top-level main menu to the command being executed or the command executed immediately before on the display screen of the display 3, the layer directly above the bottom-level layer from the top-level main menu. Are displayed as a hierarchical menu, and the menu of the lowest hierarchical level is displayed in a normal menu display area on the display screen of the display 3, for example, a display area of a pick menu. The hierarchical menu is displayed in this way because the number of commands constituting the menu hierarchy is large compared to the display capability of the display screen of the display 3, and the command menus of all the hierarchies can be displayed as the hierarchical menu. If this is not the case and it is possible to display the command menus of all layers as a hierarchical menu, it is desirable to display the command menus of all layers as a hierarchical menu.

The hierarchical menu processing unit 14 also performs a process for selecting and designating an arbitrary command of the hierarchical menu by operating the mouse while the hierarchical menu is being displayed. It also performs the processing to execute the commands of the hierarchical menu at once.
The hierarchical menu processing unit 14 changes the lower submenu on the hierarchical menu when a command for changing the lower submenu on the hierarchical menu is selected in selecting and specifying an arbitrary command on the hierarchical menu.
When executing the command selected and specified on the hierarchical menu, the hierarchical menu processing unit 14 substantially returns from the position on the command hierarchy at that time to the required command hierarchy, and further selects and specifies the hierarchy. Select and execute commands on the menu sequentially.

When the hierarchical menu processing unit 14 instructs the hierarchical menu display unit 14 to display the hierarchical menu, the hierarchical menu holding unit 15 reproduces the command selection state up to that point on the hierarchical menu by the command selection processing unit 13. Holds the selected state of. Therefore, the hierarchical menu holding unit 15 holds the selection state of the sequential commands together with the information of the command menu every time the command selection processing unit 13 selects a command, and when the command is canceled, the corresponding hierarchical menu holding unit 15 holds it. Cancel the information. The contents held in the hierarchical menu holding unit 15 are changed by the command selection on the hierarchical menu by the hierarchical menu processing unit 14, and are also used when the hierarchical menu processing unit 14 executes the hierarchical menu selection command. The hierarchical menu holding unit 15 may be configured by diverting a part of the memory 17.

The command execution processing section 16 carries out command execution processing in accordance with the command information from the command selection processing section 13 and the hierarchical menu processing section 14. In the command execution processing by the command execution processing unit 16, the display content of the display 3 and the storage content of the memory 17 are updated via the memory / display control unit 11 as necessary. The memory 17 stores information including CAD drawing data to be displayed by the memory / display control unit 11. The storage contents of the memory 17 are transferred to the storage device 5 as needed. The memory 17 may share a memory used in various normal CAD processes in the CAD processing unit 1.

Next, the operation relating to the interruption of the command and the suspension of the command in the CAD system having such a configuration will be described in detail with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. The process shown in FIG. 2 is a main routine for a command process executed in the CAD system after a predetermined initialization process, an environment setting process, and the like are performed immediately after the system is activated.

When the routine of FIG. 2 is started, first, the menu display control unit 12 sets a command menu called a main menu or the like in the highest hierarchy of the menu hierarchy on the screen of the display 3 in a preset menu display area. Is displayed (step S11). Step S
When the command menu is displayed in 11, the command menu state is registered in the hierarchical menu holding unit 15 (step S12). Immediately after the command menu is displayed in step S11, the command selection processing unit 13 starts monitoring the cursor position (step S1).
3).

When a desired command is selected by operating the mouse of the input device 2 from the command menu displayed on the screen of the display 3 while the cursor position is being monitored (step S14), The command selection processing unit 13 determines whether or not there is a command menu of a subcommand of the next layer subordinate to the command, that is, whether or not there is a submenu (step S15). If a subcommand exists, menu display control is performed. Part 12
Via, in the menu display area of the display 3,
A command menu of subcommands is displayed (step S16), and the process returns to step S12.

If it is determined in step S15 that there is no sub-menu, it is determined whether or not an execution command has been selected (step S17). If an execution command has been selected, the command execution processing section 16 applies the command. The command is executed (step S18), and the process returns to step S13.
When it is determined in step S17 that the execution command is not selected, the process immediately returns to step S13,
The above process is repeated. In the CAD system, the process shown in FIG. 3 is a layer activated as a kind of interrupt process activated by a predetermined operation of the mouse of the input device 2 or a predetermined key operation of the keyboard during execution of the process shown in FIG. This is menu processing. The predetermined operation for activating the hierarchical menu process may be any operation that can be performed without interfering with the operation for performing other processes of the main routine shown in FIG. 2, for example, the first button of the 3-button mouse. Double click.

When the process of FIG. 2 is started, the hierarchical menu processing unit 14 executes the command from the main menu or the immediately preceding command via the menu display control unit 12 according to the information held in the hierarchical menu holding unit 15. Among the command menus of all the layers up to the command executed in step 1, the layer menu except the lowest command layer in this case is displayed near the cursor position at that time (step S
21). At this time, the command menu of the lowest command hierarchy is the normal menu display area of the display 3,
For example, it is displayed in the pick menu area and is treated as a part of the hierarchical menu. As soon as the hierarchical menu is displayed in step S21, the hierarchical menu processing unit 14 starts monitoring the cursor position (step S22).

When a desired command is selected by operating the mouse of the input device 2 from the hierarchical menu displayed on the screen of the display 3 while the cursor position is being monitored (step S23). The hierarchical menu processing unit 14 determines whether or not there is a command menu of a subcommand of the next hierarchical layer subordinate to the command, that is, whether or not there is a submenu (step S24). If a subcommand exists, the hierarchical menu is held. The information of the hierarchical menu held in the unit 15 is changed according to the sub-menu (step S25), the hierarchical menu is re-displayed on the display 3 via the menu display control unit 12 (step S26), and the process proceeds to step S22. Return.

If it is determined in step S24 that there is no sub-menu, it is determined whether or not an execution command has been selected (step S27). If an execution command has been selected, the hierarchical menu processing unit 14 causes The information of the hierarchical menu held in the menu holding unit 15 is changed, and the command of the desired hierarchy is returned from the position on the menu hierarchy at that time, and according to the information of the hierarchical menu held in the hierarchical menu holding unit 15. A series of hierarchical commands are executed (step S28), a command menu corresponding to the last execution state is displayed in the menu area of the display 3 (step S29), and the process returns to the original main routine. If it is determined in step S27 that the execution command has not been selected, the process immediately returns to step S22 and the above-described processing is repeated.

Now, the hierarchy of the command menu used in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 shows a part of the menu system of the command menu in this system. The command group G1 includes "drawing creation", "drawing management", "design", "initial setting", "tablet", and "NC link" for basic system operations.
And so on, and constitutes the first-level menu, that is, the top-level main menu. A command group G2 that constitutes a second-level menu of the next stage when the operator selects "Drawing" from the menu of this command group G1
Consists of "Drawing", "Annotation", "Graphic layout", "Relationship definition", "Prop form", etc.

When "Draw" is selected from the menu of this command group G2, the command group G3 which constitutes the menu of the third layer of the next stage is "line", "circle",
"Ellipse", "Freeform curve", "Point", "Rectangle", "Polygon", "Surface", "Symbol", "Hole symbol",
It consists of "slot symbols", "traces", etc. The command group G4 constituting the menu of the fourth layer in the next stage when “Line” is selected from the menu of the command group G3 is composed of “continuous”, “2 points”, “horizontal” and the like. Further, the command group G5 that constitutes the third-level menu of the next stage when “Annotation” is selected from the menu of the command group G2 is “character”, “dimension”, “leader line”, “calculation”, “ "Symbol", "Balloons", "Bill of Materials"
Etc. When "Dimension" is selected from the menu of this command group G5, the command group G6 that constitutes the menu of the next fourth level is "Standard", "One arrow", "Angle", "Radius", "Diameter". , “Progressive”, “coordinates”, “arc length”, “chamfer”, “cross section” and the like.

In such a menu system, by the normal command selection using the command selection processing unit 13,
FIG. 5 shows an example of the state of the display screen of the display 3 when the "drawing creation"-"drawing"-"line" commands are sequentially selected from the command groups G1, G2 and G3. The left end portion of the display screen of the display 3 shown in FIG. 5 has a command area CA and a pick menu area P from the top.
A, a go menu area GA and an information area IA. In the pick menu area PA, a command menu of the first layer is initially displayed as a pick menu, and every time a command is selected, a command menu of the next layer corresponding to the command is sequentially displayed, and at the same time, a command is displayed. In the area CA, the command having the command group currently displayed in the pick menu area PA as a subcommand, that is, the command name of the command selected immediately before is displayed.

In the go menu area GA, "execution" and "stop" for instructing selection execution, stop, etc. of a command instructed by reverse display on the pick menu.
Command names such as are displayed. In the case of FIG. 5, since the “line” command is selected and “line” is displayed in the command area, a “move” command for instructing the movement of the line is also included in the go menu area GA. It is displayed. In the information area IA, the setting state of main command data such as various parameters related to the command and some toggle switches are displayed.

In the above menu system, as shown in FIG. 5, with the "Drawing"-"Drawing"-"Line" command selected, double-click the first button of the input device 2, for example, the mouse. Command to display the hierarchical menu,
As shown in FIG. 6, when the instruction is given on the display screen of the display 3, a top level menu TLM as a hierarchical menu is displayed near the position of the cursor CS. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), this top-level menu TLM is from the first layer to the third layer, that is, FIG.
The command groups G1, G2, and G3 are displayed in a sequence. At this time, G of each command group
In order to enable the operator to recognize the selected command of 1, G2 and G3, for example, as shown in FIG.
It is displayed in reverse as shown in (a). At that time, it was originally displayed in the pick menu area PA, as shown in FIG. 7 (b).
The menu of the fourth layer, that is, the menu of the command group G4 in FIG. 4 is displayed as it is.

Next, a case will be described in which a hierarchical menu including the top level menu TLM displayed in this way is used to select a command to be executed next.
When the top level menu TLM is displayed, an arbitrary command of the top level menu TLM can be selected and instructed by operating the input device 2, for example, a mouse. That is, with the top level menu TLM as shown in FIG. 7A displayed, command group G2
When the command corresponding to is changed from the "plot" command to the "comment" command, the command group corresponding to the command group G2 displayed in the top level menu TLM is replaced by the command group as shown in FIG. 8 (a). When the command group G5 command group is displayed, the "dimension" command of the command group G5 command group is selected, and the hierarchical menu is displayed by a predetermined operation such as a mouse, the top-level menu TLM disappears from the screen. , The "Drawing" command on the main menu executes the "Annotation"-"Dimensions" command at once, and the display of the pick menu area PA is changed to the command menu of the command group G6 of Fig. 4 as shown in Fig. 8 (b). The display state is as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, the pick menu area PA
8B, a command menu of the command group G6 as shown in FIG. 8B is displayed, and at the same time, the pick menu area PA is displayed in the command area CA.
The command name of the "dimension" command whose subcommand is the command group displayed in is displayed. In the go menu area GA, select and execute the "radius" command indicated by reverse display on the pick menu,
A command name such as "execute" or "stop" for instructing stop is displayed. In this way, by instructing the display of the hierarchical menu and displaying the top-level menu TLM, it is possible to easily and accurately grasp the state of the menu hierarchy at that time.
Furthermore, by selecting a desired command in advance on the top level menu TLM and exiting the hierarchical menu display state, it is possible to shift to the command selected on the top level menu TLM at once.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can be modified in various ways. For example, in the above, the top-level menu TLM is used as the hierarchical menu.
Is displayed in a form in which the command groups from the first hierarchy to the third hierarchy are sequentially arranged. However, like the top level menu TLM 'shown in FIGS. 10 and 11,
The command groups from the first layer to the fourth layer may be sequentially arranged and displayed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a command is input in a CAD system having a hierarchically structured command of a plurality of layers, a command menu consisting of an index of each command for each layer is displayed on the display screen. When a command in the lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, by displaying and displaying in a predetermined area and selecting one of the indexes of each command displayed in the command menu with the instruction cursor, the lower command menu is displayed. Sequentially display, repeat the command selection instruction, when the command of the lower hierarchy does not exist in the corresponding command, input the corresponding command, execute the command, and instructed by a predetermined input operation, Selected from the highest hierarchy of the above commands on the display screen at that time Command hierarchical menu including substantially all command menus up to the command, and selecting one of the indices of each command displayed in the hierarchical menu with the instruction cursor, the lower hierarchy of the corresponding command is displayed. When the command exists, the command menu portion corresponding to the lower command is switched to the one corresponding to the command and displayed, and the command selection instruction is repeated. Command to trace back from the previously selected command to the desired command, and then select and execute the hierarchical command up to the entered command, and then execute that command in the command hierarchy during execution of the command. You can easily know the position of the De and it is possible to provide a command input method and apparatus which makes it possible to easily execute a command to its dependent command or belong to different modules or hierarchies.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a CAD system incorporating a CAD processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining a schematic operation of a main routine of the CAD system shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart for explaining a schematic operation related to a hierarchical menu process of the CAD system of FIG.

4 is a diagram schematically showing a command menu hierarchy in the CAD system of FIG.

5 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a normal menu display state in the CAD system of FIG.

6 is a diagram schematically showing a display state of a hierarchical menu in the CAD system of FIG.

7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of display contents of a top-level menu and a pick menu in the CAD system of FIG.

8 is a diagram schematically showing another example of display contents of the top level menu and the pick menu in the CAD system of FIG.

9 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a menu display state immediately after leaving the hierarchical menu display in the CAD system of FIG.

10 is a diagram schematically showing another example of display contents of the top-level menu and the pick menu in the CAD system of FIG.

11 is a diagram schematically showing still another example of the display contents of the top-level menu and the pick menu in the CAD system of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... CAD processing unit, 2 ... Input device, 3 ... Display,
4 ... Output device, 5 ... Storage device, 11 ... Memory / display control unit, 12 ... Menu display control unit, 13 ... Command selection processing unit, 14 ... Hierarchical menu processing unit, 15 ... Hierarchical menu holding unit, 16 ... Command execution Processing unit, 17 ... Memory.

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. When a command is input in a CAD system having a command of a hierarchical structure of a plurality of hierarchies, a menu display step of displaying a command menu consisting of an index of each command for each hierarchy in a predetermined area of a display screen, By selecting and instructing one of the indexes of each command displayed in the command menu with the instructing cursor, when a command of a lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, the lower command menu is sequentially displayed, and the command A command selection step of repeating the selection instruction and inputting a corresponding command when there is no command of a lower hierarchy in the corresponding command, a command executing step of executing the command input in the command selecting step, and a predetermined input operation Command hierarchy menu A hierarchical menu instructing step for instructing the display of a command, and when the hierarchical command instructing step is instructed to display a command hierarchical menu, the command currently selected from the highest hierarchical level of the command on the display screen. Up to a hierarchical menu display step for displaying a hierarchical menu including substantially all command menus, and an instruction to select one of the indices of the commands displayed in the hierarchical menu displayed in the hierarchical menu display step with a cursor By doing so, when a command of a lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, the command menu part corresponding to the lower level is switched to the one corresponding to the command and displayed, and the command selection instruction is repeated, and the corresponding command is repeated. When there is no lower level command in Hierarchical command selection step of inputting the corresponding command, and when the command is input by the hierarchical command selection step, the hierarchical command from the previously selected command to the required command is traced back to the input command. And a hierarchical command execution step of selectively executing the command input method. 2. The command selection step includes a step of storing command menu information relating to a history of command selection from the highest hierarchy in a command history storage unit and providing it to the hierarchy menu display step. The command input method according to item 1. 3. The command input method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical menu instructing step is a step in which a predetermined input operation is assigned to a predetermined key operation. 4. The command input method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical menu instructing step is a step in which a predetermined input operation is assigned to a predetermined mouse button operation. . 5. The hierarchical menu display step displays the hierarchical menu excluding the command menu of the lowest hierarchy in an area different from the normal menu display area on the screen, and displays the command menu of the lowest hierarchy on the screen. 5. The command input method according to claim 1, which is a step of displaying in a normal menu display area. 6. The hierarchical menu displaying step is a step of displaying the hierarchical menu in an area different from a normal menu display area on the screen.
The command input method according to any one of 4 above. 7. The command input method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical menu displaying step is a step of displaying the hierarchical menu near a cursor position on the screen. 8. A command input device in a CAD system having a command of a hierarchical structure of a plurality of layers, and menu display means for displaying a command menu consisting of an index of each command for each layer in a predetermined area of a display screen. By selecting and instructing one of the indexes of the respective commands displayed in the command menu with an instruction cursor, when a command of a lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, the menu display means sequentially displays the lower command menu. The command is repeatedly displayed and the command selection instruction is repeated, and when there is no command of a lower hierarchy in the applicable command, command selecting means for inputting the applicable command, and executing the command input by the command selecting means Command execution means for A hierarchical menu instructing means for instructing the display of the command hierarchical menu by a force operation, and when the hierarchical command instructing means instructs the display of the command hierarchical menu, from the highest hierarchical level of the command on the display screen, Hierarchical menu display means for displaying a hierarchical menu including substantially all command menus up to the command currently selected, and an index of each command displayed in the hierarchical menu displayed by the hierarchical menu display means By selecting and instructing any one of the above with the instruction cursor, when the command of the lower hierarchy exists in the corresponding command, the command menu portion corresponding to the lower order is switched by the hierarchy menu display means to the one corresponding to the command. Display, repeat the command selection instruction, When a command of a lower hierarchy does not exist in the command in question, a hierarchy command selecting means for inputting a corresponding command, and when a command is inputted by the hierarchy command selecting means, a command selected from the commands previously selected is required. A command input device, comprising: a hierarchical command executing means for selectively executing a hierarchical command from a command traced to an inputted command. 9. The command selection means includes history holding means for storing and holding command menu information relating to the history of command selection from the highest hierarchy, and command menu information relating to the history of command selection for each command selection. 9. The command input device according to claim 8, further comprising: storage processing means for storing the above in the history holding means and providing the hierarchical menu display means with the hierarchical menu display means. 10. The command input device according to claim 8, wherein the hierarchical menu instructing means is a means in which a predetermined input operation is assigned to a predetermined key operation. 11. The command input device according to claim 8, wherein the hierarchical menu instructing means is a means in which a predetermined input operation is assigned to a predetermined button operation of a mouse. . 12. The hierarchical menu display means displays the hierarchical menu excluding the command menu of the lowest hierarchy in an area different from the normal menu display area on the screen, and the command menu of the lowest hierarchy on the screen. The command input device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, which is a means for displaying in a normal menu display area. 13. The hierarchical menu display means is means for displaying a hierarchical menu in an area different from the normal menu display area on the screen.
11. The command input device according to any one of 11. 14. The command input device according to claim 8, wherein the hierarchical menu display means is means for displaying a hierarchical menu near a cursor position on the screen.