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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to word processing systems and more
particularly to a method for creating a document parts inventory and
composing final documents by referencing selected parts of the inventory.
In connection with microcomputers and computer work-stations, there are a
number of word processing programs available to facilitate the task of
preparing correspondence in the form of letters and memos as well as the
preparation of other documents for transmittal where hard copies are
required. Through the years, such programs have been improved in many ways
in order to make it easier for the user to determine the content of a
document and then to compose the requisite content items in a predefined
manner which is frequently the same in all cases with regard to a specific
form of correspondence.
Many of these word processing programs permit the creation of so-called
standard form letters and the identification of those letters as separate
files on a file screen of a video display terminal (VDT). A VDT operator
may display the file screen and select which file or letter is to be
displayed on the screen and to which changes may be made to customize that
previous file or letter to a current situation and save that newly created
document to a new file. That process, however, normally involves a
significant amount of keying by the operator since addressees, subjects,
mailing addresses and content as well as the identity of individuals
receiving copies, all have to be changed in most cases. Moreover, a
substantial amount of time is required for content changes to the letters
since sections of text must be identified and deleted and new sections
require identification, keying in, insertion and proofreading before the
document can be printed in final form.
Notwithstanding the improvements which have been made to word processing
programs over the years, there still exists a need for a word processing
facility by which operator keying is significantly reduced and documents
can be created in even shorter periods of time using document portions
previously created thereby minimizing the keying in and proofreading of
added text.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved word processing system by which an operator may create and save a
significant inventory of document parts and create new documents by a
selective "pointing" to the inventory parts desired to be included in the
required document. A preferred embodiment of the present invention
displays a document parts inventory to the user on a single screen from
which the user may compose a new document by screen references to the
parts desired, and effect the printing of the selectively composed
document, in most cases without reference to additional screens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the present invention may be had when the
following specification is read with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of the document parts inventory screen of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the program flow and function implemented to
support the operation of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a continuation of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a continuation of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, as disclosed herein, has been designed to run in
connection with, or "on top of", a typical word processing program which
includes editing functions utilized by the present invention in creating
and modifying the document parts inventory files. Such basic editing
operations are available on the market and well known in the art.
Subsequent reference to an "XEDIT" function will be understood to mean
such an editing function which has the capability of manipulating text
including facilities to insert and delete text from a displayed document.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the implementing code was used
in connection with an IBM Personal Computer XT connected in a network to a
host IBM 3081 mainframe computer which in turn was running the IBM Virtual
Machine System Product (VM/SP).
Referring in detail to FIG. 1, there is shown the master menu for the memo
parts inventory or interface system. The main screen has 24 rows
designated R1 through R24 and includes 13 columns designated C1 through
C13. The FIG. 1 screen is displayed to the user after the user keys in the
initials "MPI" and hits the enter key on his video display terminal after
logging onto the VM system.
The first column C1 of the master menu designates the control functions
available to the program. The "PF1-PF12" designations on the screen refer
to corresponding function keys on an operator keyboard which, on the
Personal Computer XT, are designated F1-F10, and shifted F9 and F10,
respectively. Although the designated functions are somewhat
self-explanatory, they will be explained in more detail in connection with
the following description of an exemplary application of the present
invention.
In column C2, portions of a typical document are identified and those
portions comprise the parts inventory for the documents to be created
using the present invention. In column C3, the selected inventory parts
are displayed. The short identifier fields in column 3 designate
corresponding files in the system which are selected for the document
presently being composed, or default designations in the event files are
unspecified by the operator.
Columns C4-C13 generally indicate the short identifiers for particular
files which have previously been created and which are available for
selection by a user to include in a document presently being composed. As
shown, the "TO" inventory part of a document is arranged in the present
example to contain three rows of 10 columns each, or 30 files, with each
file containing the name of an individual or department to whom memos are
frequently sent. It should be noted that more than 30 files may be created
and stored but only 30 will appear on the screen in the present example.
Files not appearing on the screen may be viewed by moving the cursor
anywhere in the "TO" fields and depressing the PF4 key to "Scroll List".
In other applications, the "TO" list of files may have more or fewer
spaces for files and the "Body" or other list or document part may be
designed to display fewer or more files so that the total number of
displayed short identifiers remains the same.
In row R7, there are shown the various classifications ("CLAS") of the
document which may apply. For example, at R7 C4, the designation "NONE"
means that the document being composed is not classified in any way. The
program may be designed so that each of the designations in C2 may or may
not appear in the hard copy of the memo being created regardless of
whether or not there is a user input or selection made in the
corresponding C3 position. At R8, C2, the date of the memorandum is
designated and in the present example is defaulted to or automatically
inserted as the current date, but may be typed over for a different date.
At R9, there are 10 columns to identify 10 individuals or departments from
whom the memo may be sent. That facility is useful in departments where
one or more secretaries type for a number of people, all of whom may send
or receive memos or correspondence. Moreover, the files are arranged to
contain specific address information of the sender, and may include items
which vary from individual to individual even within the department such
as the individual's phone number or virtual machine terminal
identification (VMID). It should be noted that the document parts
identified as "TO", "FROM", and "BODY", have an asterisk associated
therewith to indicate in the present embodiment that at least those three
items require a user input before the memo can be sent. If one or more
parts is lacking, an error message will be displayed to so indicate.
At R10 and R11, there are 10 columns each for storing standard "subject"
inputs ("SUBJ"). Each of the files included in column C4 through C13 have
space for a four-character designator although file designators having
fewer characters may be used. For example, in row R12 which includes
possible "reference" insertions ("REF"), C4 specifies "I105" which could
stand for the corporate instruction, which could set forth the policy of
the company with regard to a particular area of interest and the practices
which are required to be implemented in that particular area by corporate
management. In that case, that particular corporate instruction would be
referenced on many different internal memoranda although each one would
specifically include a report or correspondence with regard to only one
practice covered by the broad policy.
At rows R13-R15 there are 10 columns each for a total of 30 possible file
identifiers of which each one designates a particular "BODY" of a
memorandum for a different "standard form". For example, the file at R13,
C4, is identified as "RPTM" which could stand for a required monthly
report which must be submitted in accordance with the referenced corporate
instruction I105. The file at R13, C5 "RPTW", could stand for a weekly
report and "BGTR" at C6 could mean the standard "BODY" for a budget
request. Generally, the body files will have some correspondence to the
subject files although there may be several body files which could
correspond to one general subject file. For example, at R10, C8, the
"SUBJ" file designated in "APR" could generally stand for "Name Approval"
for the name of a new product. Under that general subject, there may be
several procedural documents which are routinely sent. For example, at
R13, C8, the "BODY" file "NAPI" could stand for a first standard
correspondence under the name approval procedure which could be a request
from one department to another for its concurrence and approval of a
proposed name while "NAP2" at R13, C9, could refer to a stored file
containing the body portion of a memo which provides notice to various
departments that a proposed name for a new product has received the
necessary approvals.
At rows 16 and 17, there are spaces for the identification of 20 possible
files which, in this case, are individuals to whom carbon copies of
memoranda are frequently sent. It should be noted that although the
present example shows specific numbers of files for each particular
document part, the number of files available for each part may vary among
users depending upon the application, and the main menu shown in FIG. 1
along with the underlying implementing program can be modified accordingly
to suit particular needs with regard to numbers of files required without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
At R18, C4-C13, there are 20 potential files to identify 20 different
distribution lists "DIST" of individuals or departments for receiving
memos or documents being created. "ATT" at R20, C2 indicates whether or
not attachments "ATT" are to be forwarded along with the created memo and
an entry at R21, C3 allows a user to attach another file "ATTFI" which is
electronically stored in system memory.
At R22, C3 a user is allowed to specify the number of copies "COPYS" of the
memorandum to be printed, as well as the particular font "FONT" desired at
R22, C5-6. Row R23 identifies the particular kinds of printers "PRNTR" on
which the memo is to be printed, and R24, C3 specifies the location of the
printer "PRTID" at which the created memorandum is to be printed.
FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate, in logical flow, the functions performed by
the program in implementing the present invention and are hereinafter
referred to in connection with the following description of an exemplary
operation.
In operation, the first time the program is utilized at START 1, a
determination is made at block 3 whether or not this is the first use of
the program. If it is the first use, a series of HELP screens 5 are
displayed which include instructions regarding the use and operation of
the program. Thereafter, the master screen or main menu is built at block
7 and the program flow merges at point 9 to a Build or Refresh Parts List
function 15. For second and subsequent uses of the system, the help
screens are not displayed and the program reads the screen record from
memory at block 11. Subsequent portions of the program are also merged at
point 9 as indicated by the "A1" off-page connector 13. After the "PARTS
LIST" is built or refreshed (updated) the screen record is saved at block
17. At that point, a determination is made as to whether or not this is
the first time through the program at block 19. If it is the first time
through the program, another determination is made whether or not a "Log"
file exists at block 21. As will be hereinafter explained in more detail,
the "Log" file contains a quick reference to previous documents which were
created and printed in final form using the present invention. The "Log"
file includes the "TO", "FROM", "DATE", "SUBJECT", and "REFERENCE" entries
or fields as used in a prior printed memorandum or correspondence. The
"Log" file also contains the identification of the unique set of short
identifiers which were selected to create that memorandum. In the present
example, the "Log" files are displayed in several screens with each screen
containing three separate summaries of previously printed documents. The
log file is automatically created whenever a document is printed in final
form and may be accessed by depressing the function key PF11 "VIEW LOG".
The "VIEW LOG" function is useful to the extent that the short identifiers
for the many files in the program may not be remembered by a user for a
particular document and before creating a new document the user may wish
to review the log file in order to identify a previously written document
and the precise files which were combined in that document. In many cases,
however, the user will relate the short identifiers on the master menu for
the files with the content of those files and be able to create new
documents without referring to the "Log" file at all.
Returning to the functional flow diagram of FIG. 2, if it is determined
that a Log file exists at block 21, the program reads the last log record
to display those file entries in the "SELECTIONS" column C3 when the
master menu is displayed. In the event this is not the first time through
the program, blocks 21 and 23 are bypassed and the program restores the
selections or gets the default values at block 25 to display in the
"SELECTIONS" column C3 when the master menu is displayed at block 29. In
subsequent portions of the program, as shown in FIG. 4, where no operator
input is required, the program is returned to the "Restore Selections"
block 25 as designated at the C1 off-page connector 27. Where, however,
inputs are detected, the program returns to off-page connector A1 so that
the display may be updated or refreshed at block 15 before the refreshed
master menu is displayed at block 29. Upon the first use of the program,
all of the file identifiers in columns C4 through C13 are blank except for
selected ones such as row 7 which includes the various possible
classifications and row 8 which displays the current date. This particular
arrangement may vary depending upon the particular application.
As a user creates his first document which, in the present example, is an
internal memorandum having a prearranged format, he positions the cursor
on row 4, column 2, underneath the first input blank and proceeds to type
in the initials, for example, of the person to whom the memorandum is to
be sent. At that point, the user after insuring that the cursor is in the
R4,C3 field activates the PF8 key designated in column 1 "XEDIT". At that
time a file screen appears on the display as shown below, in which the
user is able to insert the full name of the individual to whom the memo is
being sent together with the particular mail station of that individual,
the city and the state.
__________________________________________________________________________
M3TOTFGSCRIPTAlV 132 TRUNC=132 SIZE=18 LINE=0 COL=1 ALT=4
====>
...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....
===== * * * TOP OF FILE * * *
===== .* Leave the single quotes, but delete any extra "<->".
===== .* You may replace all this with ":to.tag", if desired,
===== .* in which case "tag" must be in a "NAMES" file you have
===== .* accessed.
===== .* Ignore the line four lines below that begins with ":TX."
===== .se a=`T. F. Galvin`
===== .se b=`15-11-50`
===== .se c=`Irving, Tx`
===== :tx.`&a ` `&b ` `&c `
===== * * * END OF FILE * * *
1=NUON2=NOFF3=SPLIT4=FOR5=BACK6=JOIN7=UP108=DO109=TAB10=<-11=->12=FILE
__________________________________________________________________________
In the present example, the operator moves the cursor to the lines labelled
".se a=", ".se b=" and ".se c=" and inputs data as shown above within the
single quote marks. The format of the file screen may also be varied
depending upon the application and the particular organization in which
the program is operating. After inputting the particular data, the user
will push the PF12 key which activates the "FILE" command to save the
input information in a file which may subsequently be accessed by cursor
reference to the initials placed in column C3 when the file was created.
The PF12 function also returns the user to the main menu. At that time it
is noted that the initials originally typed in C3 now appear in C4 at row
5 indicating that a file has been created having those initials and may be
accessed in the future for memoranda sent to the same individual.
With reference to the functional flow of FIG. 2, when the master screen is
displayed at block 29, the program checks to determine whether the
operator wishes to exit the program at block 31 which will occur if the
operator depresses the PF1 function key "QUIT". Whenever the PF1 key is
depressed, the program will terminate at 33 and return to the next level
of program control (i.e. "VM"). If the PF1 key has not been depressed, the
program checks to see if the cursor select function has been invoked at
35, such as would occur if an operator had positioned the cursor in one of
the fields of columns C4-C13 and activated any key. If the cursor select
function has been elected, the program moves the selected field to the
"SELECTIONS" column, i.e. from one of the columns C4-C13 to column C3 as
shown at block 37. Thereafter, the program either gets or edits the
selections on the screen at block 39 depending upon whether or not the
cursor select function was invoked at block 35. The program then checks
for errors at block 41, and if there are no errors, the program restores
the "SELECTIONS" list at block 45 and continues to scan for inputs as
shown in FIG. 3 beginning with B2 off-page connector 47. In the event
errors existed at block 41 error messages are moved to the screen at block
43 before the "SELECTIONS" list is restored at block 45.
After having created the first "TO" file, the user may continue to build
the document parts inventory by positioning the cursor under the first
character blank of C3 in R7 document being created. In the present
example, the document is unclassified and accordingly the word "NONE" is
inserted in that space. Assuming the user wanted the current date to
appear as the date of the memorandum, the user would then proceed to the
first space in C3 across from R9 which is the identifier for the "FROM"
part of the memo. Here, the user would insert his own initials, or if a
secretary is typing a memo, the initials of the person requesting the
memo. Again, insuring that the cursor is in one of the four spaces of the
R9-C3 field, the user would again push the PF8 "XEDIT" key, and the
program would display another file screen for input from the operator. The
"FROM" file screen as shown below solicits the full name of the sender to
be shown on the memorandum as well as the particular address of the sender
and possibly his phone number and VM/ID or other relevant information.
__________________________________________________________________________
M3FRRVWSCRIPTAlV 132 TRUNC=132 SIZE=14 LINE=0 COL=1 ALT=0
====>
...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....
===== * * * TOP OF FILE * * *
===== .* Enter your name immediately after ":name." on line 9.
===== .* Enter your phone extension in place of "xxxx" on line 9.
===== .* Enter your title & dept. name after ":dept." on line 10.
===== .* Enter your location and int. zip after ":zip." (line 11.)
===== .* Enter your electronic address after ":mail." (line 12.)
===== .* Enter the way you sign your name after ":sig." on line 13.
===== .* Enter your initials after ":init./" on line 14.
===== :from.
===== :name.Robert V. Wilder :phone.214-556-5491, T/L 641-5491
===== :dept.Patent Attorney/Dallas Patent Operations
===== :zip.MS 15-11-50, PO Box 152750, Irving, Texas 75015-2750
===== :mail.DALHQICI(WILDER)
===== :sig.Robert V. Wilder
===== :init./rvw
===== * * * END OF FILE * * *
1=NUON2=NOFF3=SPLIT4=FOR5=BACK6=JOIN7=UP108=DO109=TAB10=<-11=->12=FILE
__________________________________________________________________________
After having input that information, the operator pushes the PF12 key to
file away that information and return the user to the master menu screen.
Thereafter, that file may be accessed by positioning the cursor under the
initials which created that file and pushing the PF8 key or merely
"selected" for a subsequent memo by positioning the cursor as noted and
pushing the "ENTER" key.
The user will then normally create a subject file "SUBJ" by inputting a
subject file identifier of up to four characters in R10 at C3. Again
positioning the cursor under that field the operator would push the PF8
key and the particularly identified subject file screen would appear as
shown below with all blanks to be completed as necessary by the user. The
user would then key in the full subject as it would appear on the document
and press PF12 to file that input and return the user to the main menu.
__________________________________________________________________________
M3SBTMCL SCRIPTAlV 132 TRUNC=132 SIZE=4 LINE=0 COL=1 ALT=4
====>
...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....
===== * * * TOP OF FILE * * *
===== .* Each line of a subject block must start with ":subj.".
===== .* Modify or delete the following lines as desired.
===== :subj.Trademark Report.
===== * * * END OF FILE * * *
1=NUON2=NOFF3=SPLIT4=FOR5=BACK6=JOIN7=UP108=DO109=TAB10=<-11=->12=FILE
__________________________________________________________________________
In like manner, the user identifies and inputs to create a "REF" file and
the remaining files as shown in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the editor
functions include devices by which new paragraphs may be added and new
lines may be added if the predetermined file space is not sufficient for
the text of the memo body. An exemplary "BODY" file screen is shown below.
__________________________________________________________________________
M3BORPTMSCRIPTAlV 132 TRUNC=132 SIZE=20 LINE=0 COL=1 ALT=20
====>
...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....
===== * * * TOP OF FILE * * *
===== .* If you don't need them, delete these ten comment lines.
===== .* (A comment line is one that starts with ".*" column 1.)
===== .* Add memo body below line 12.If you don't want ragged
===== .* right margin, change ".ju off" to ".ju on" on line 11 below.
===== .* Formatting tags::p.=paragraph, :ol.=begin ordered list,
===== .* :eol.=end ordered list, :ul.=begin unordered list,
===== .* :eul.=end unordered list, :sl.=begin simple list,
===== .* :esl.=end simple list.
===== .* Use starter set tags freely.Save this file frequently.
===== :body.
===== .ju off
===== :p.This is the first sentence in a sample paragraph.
===== This is the second sentence in the first sample paragraph.
===== :p.This is the second sample paragraph.
===== :ol.
===== :li.This is list item 1 in a sample ordered list.
===== :li.This is list item 2 in a sample ordered list.
===== :li.This is list item 3 in a sample ordered list.
===== :eol.
===== * * * END OF FILE * * *
1=NUON2=NOFF3=SPLIT4=FOR5=BACK6=JOIN7=UP108=DO109=TAB10=<-11=->12=FILE
__________________________________________________________________________
The listing capability, which is part of the formating control, appears on
the body file screen and allows a user to insert data items which will
automatically be numbered in appropriate order.
It should be noted that certain of the document parts categories shown in
the second column C2 cannot be changed by pushing the PF8 key, i.e.
several of the document parts have no associated file. For example, the
classification line at row 7 contains one of the three predesignated
"classifications" and if a different "classification" is required that
input is entered on the master menu in row 7 beginning at column C8 rather
than being entered in an associated file screen.
The PF1 key when pushed returns the user to the originating program from
which the document parts or memo parts program was accessed. PF2 "CHECK
SPELLING", allows the user of the memo parts program to access that
function in the basic VM program. The PF3 key "VIEW MEMO" allows a user to
view the entire memo after it has been created before it is sent to the
printer. In that connection, it should be noted that after a user creates
the first memorandum using the system, the PF 3 key may then be actuated
at which time a message would appear in a lower right hand corner of the
master screen advising the operator that the memo is being collected
together from the selected parts. After a very short delay the memo as
created appears on the screen for the user to visually proofread. That
process occurs each time the "VIEW MEMO" PF3 or print functions PF5 or PF6
are invoked, i.e., a new memo is collected from the parts which have been
inserted in the "SELECTIONS" column C3.
The PF4 key "SCROLL LIST" is used by an operator to scroll file
designations which have been created but do not appear on the screen in
columns C4-C13 because of screen space limitations.
PF5 "PRINT A DRAFT COPY" assembles the document and prints it at the
designated printer in draft format but does not "Log" the document into
the "Log" file. PF6 "PRINT A FINAL COPY" causes the designated printer to
print a copy of the created document in a final format and automatically
creates a summary of the document and saves the summary in the "Log" file
as hereinbefore explained. When it is desired to erase any of the files
for any reason, the user will position the cursor in one of the columns C4
through C13 which is to be erased and then hit the ENTER key. That process
will move the particularly identified file to the "SELECTIONS" column C3
at which time the user would press the PF7 ERASE key. As a safety measure
a message then appears warning the user that another depression of the PF7
key will erase the file at which time the user can complete the deletion
by pushing the PF7 key once again. As hereinbefore noted, the PF8 "XEDIT"
key is used to add or delete information from the screen files and the PF9
SCROLL LOG FORWARD and PF10 SCROLL LOG BACKWARD keys are used to move from
summary to summary in the "Log" file and change the list of "SELECTIONS"
(C3) accordingly. PF11 VIEW LOG is used to display the 1st screen of the
"Log" file from the master menu. The PF12 HELP key is used to display the
instructions with regard to the use of the memo parts program.
It should be noted that as new parts are created, they are automatically
added to the blank spaces in columns C4 through C13 and saved for future
access. The "SELECTIONS" column C3 will always show the particular
document parts selected for the most recently created document or a
document from the "Log" file, and when new parts are to be designated, the
user may type over the identifying characters appearing in column C3
without destroying the contents of the previous file, i.e. the file
identification always appears as one of the files in columns C4 through
C13 in addition to column C3 which indicates only that it has been
selected for a current document.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the program functions invoked by the PF
keys are illustrated in detail. As shown in those figures, the program is
interrupt-oriented so that in the event none of the function keys are
actuated, the program continues to cycle through the decision blocks
associated with the function keys returning to the off page connector A1
and merge point 9 shown in FIG. 2.
In the event the program determines that the ERASE function has been
invoked by an actuation of the PF7 key at block 49, the program next
determines whether the PF7 key has been actuated for the first or second
time at 57. After one actuation a flag is set at block 59 so that the
second actuation of the PF7 key is effective to erase the designated file
as indicated at block 61.
If the PF7 key has only been depressed once, the flag is set at block 59
and the program recycles, displays a message to the operator as
hereinbefore noted, and is effective to detect a second actuation on the
next scan.
If the program makes a determination that the function key PF3 "VIEW MEMO"
has been actuated as shown in decision block 51, and the memo has not been
built as determined at 63, the selected parts are concatenated at 65 and
formatted at 67 to be displayed to the user at 71. If the memo had already
been assembled as shown in the "SELECTIONS" column C3, the program insures
that the memo has been formatted at 69 before displaying the memo to the
user at 71. In the event the memo had not previously been formatted, it is
formatted at 67 before being displayed. The program then returns to the
merge point 9 shown on FIG. 2.
As shown in decision block 53, the program is effective to initiate the
print routine in the event the function keys PF5 "PRINT A DRAFT COPY" or
PF6 "PRINT A FINAL COPY" have been actuated. If either key has been
actuated, and the memo has not been built as determined at 73, the
selected parts are concatenated at 75 and formatted at 77 for printing at
81. In the event the memo had previously been built, the program goes
directly from the "memo built" decision block 73 to the "memo formatted"
block 79. In the event the memo had not previously been formatted, it is
then formatted at 77 prior to being printed at 81.
The difference between the "PRINT A FINAL COPY" function key PF6 and the
"PRINT A DRAFT COPY" function PF5 is illustrated by the subroutine
including the decision block 83 and the "update log" process indicated at
85. The appearance of the memo being printed will be the same regardless
of which key had been actuated. However, if the memo being printed is a
final draft as determined at 83, the "Log" file is updated at 85 for
future reference before the program returns to the merge point 9. If the
user desires to print only a rough draft, the "Log" file is not updated
and after the rough draft is printed, the program then returns to the
merger point 9 and continues to cycle for the detection of actuated
function keys.
If neither of the "print" function keys PF5 or PF6 have been actuated, the
program continues its scanning process as shown by the off-page connector
C3. In FIG. 4, the off-page connector C3 is connected to a "check
spelling" decision block 87. That routine corresponds to the function key
PF2 which, when actuated would effect a display of the file in connection
with a "spell checker" routine. That routine is part of the underlying
word processing code and similar routines are well known in the art.
Accordingly, the details of the "check spelling" routine will not be
elaborated upon at this point.
The next function scanned for selection is the "scroll log" function shown
at decision block 89 and corresponding to the actuation of either of the
function keys PF9 "SCROLL LOG FORWARD" or PF10 "SCROLL LOG BACKWARD". In
the event the "scroll log" or update function keys are actuated, the
program will either refresh or update the selections list with the next
three summary entries of the "Log" file or the previous summary entries of
the "Log" file depending upon which function key is actuated by the user.
It should be noted that the "scroll log" function is available only after
a user has first created multiple document summaries in the "Log" file by
executing the "Print a Final Copy" function. The order of the decision
blocks 49, 51, 53, and 87-97 are of no particular significance in the
present example since the program continues to scan for user inputs.
Rather, the functions themselves together with the routines disclosed and
the interrelationships among the routines and functions should be noted.
The function key PF12 "HELP" invokes a help routine as shown in decision
block 91 which is effective to display a help file at 103 containing
specific instructions on the operation of the memo parts inventory or
interface program.
As hereinbefore noted, the operator may actuate function key PF11 "VIEW
LOG" in which case decision block 93 leads the program to display the
"Log" file of part combinations for the memos previously selected and
printed in final form as shown at 105.
In the present disclosure, all of the routines which lead to off-page
connector "C1" are returned to FIG. 2 where the master menu is displayed
and the screen has not received operator input which requires master menu
updating. Those programs or routines which lead to off-page connector A1
are returned to the merge point 9 in the program shown on FIG. 2 to
accomplish a refreshing or updating of the master menu to include operator
inputs before displaying the master menu.
The actuation of function key PF8 "XEDIT" is detected by the decision block
95 which leads to a subsequent determination of whether or not the
operator is creating a new part as shown by decision block 107. In the
event the operator is creating a new part as indicated by the fact that
there is no file associated with the initials or characters in the field
in which the cursor is located when the function key is actuated, then a
blank file is processed at 109 for display to the operator and subsequent
operator input. In the event the operator is recalling a previously
created file, then the program recalls the existing part file at 111 to
display to the operator at 29 (FIG. 2) to receive operator input regarding
the modification of the previously created file. An editing function,
which processes any operator input, is also part of a pre-existing word
processing program underlying the present code and is well known in the
art.
The actuation of function key PF4 "SCROLL LIST" is detected at decision
block 97. As hereinbefore noted, that function is effective to scroll the
lists of short identifiers which are saved by the present program but may
not be displayed on the master menu screen because of the size limitation
of the screen. For example, the "TO" memo part in the present embodiment
includes space for three rows of ten columns each, or 30 files for which
short identifiers may be displayed on the screen. The program will receive
additional short identifiers which may not be displayed on the screen but
may be selectively displaye | | |
