Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing system, an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for facilitating selection of objects in a hierarchy chart indicating the relevance between a plurality of pieces of data in a hierarchical manner by using objects.SOLUTION: An information processing system includes: hierarchy chart display control means that can display objects in a selected state and object in a non-selected state in a hierarchical manner; receiving means that receives selection of the object displayed by the hierarchy chart display control means; and selection control means that, when the object received by the receiving means is in the non-selected state, controls the selection such that a layer with reference to the object is in a selected state and the other layers not including the layer are in a non-selected state.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanism for selecting an object in a hierarchical diagram.

Background Art

[0002] A company's organization usually forms a tree structure with multiple departments. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, it often forms a tree structure where the left side is the upper-level organization and the right side is the lower-level organization in the order of progression to the right.

[0003] When having the above tree structure, there is a requirement for the user to select the employee information of the company to which the user belongs and output it in a list for each department.

[0004] For this purpose, a mechanism is required that can display the organization chart of the target range in an easy-to-view manner, easily select the corresponding organization, freely set the necessary employee information, and output it.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for appropriately controlling the display and non-display of subordinate units in an organization chart based on the subordinate display attribute information set for each subordinate unit when displaying an organization chart in which a plurality of subordinate units are arranged in a tree shape based on the subordinate information constituting the organization.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, Patent Document 1 sets the level (hierarchy) up to which the employee information of companies within a group other than the company itself can be viewed, and does not consider displaying employee information for each affiliation within the company.

[0008] That is, it is not described that employees' information for each department to be viewed within the company can be easily selected from the organizational chart.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to facilitate the selection of an object in a hierarchical diagram that hierarchically shows the relevance of a plurality of data using objects.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] The present invention includes a hierarchical diagram display control means capable of hierarchically displaying a selected object and a non-selected object, a reception means for receiving the selection of an object displayed by the hierarchical diagram display control means, and when the object received by the reception means is in a non-selected state, a selection control means for setting the hierarchy based on the object to a selected state and setting other hierarchies not including the hierarchy to a non-selected state for selection control.

Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention has an effect of facilitating the selection of an object in a hierarchical diagram that hierarchically shows the relevance of a plurality of data using objects.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

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Figure 2

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Figure 3

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Figure 4

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Figure 5

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Figure 6

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Figure 7

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Figure 8

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Figure 9

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Figure 10

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Figure 11

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Figure 12

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Figure 13

[0025]

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] <First Embodiment> Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 1, the system configuration of the present invention will be described.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The application server 101 receives data from the database server 102 and performs processing to transmit the data and the application of the present invention to the client terminal 100.

[0029] The client terminal 100 is a terminal used by the user. By the user's operation, the client terminal receives an application from the application server and allows the user to select the format and content of the data received by the client terminal. The data selected by the user is acquired from the database server 102 and output as a result to spreadsheet software or the like.

[0030] The database server 102 transmits data to the application server 101, and the transmitted data is transmitted to the client terminal 100 and output to spreadsheet software or the like by the user. In the embodiments of the present invention, it is described that the application program is transmitted to the client terminal 100, and the application operates on the client terminal 100 to output the result. However, the operating application may exist on the application server. In that case, the client terminal 100 may perform screen display (for example, a web browser, etc.) and execute a process of outputting data to spreadsheet software.

[0031] Also, each information processing device may be composed of a plurality of enclosures, or some enclosures may be composed of a single one. For example, the application server 101 and the database server 102 may be in a single enclosure, or the client terminal 100 and the application server 101 may also be in a common enclosure.

[0032] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the hardware configuration of the information processing device used in the present invention will be described.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an information processing device applicable to the client terminal 100, the application server 101, and the database server 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] In FIG. 2, 201 is a CPU that comprehensively controls each device and controller connected to the system bus 204. Also, in the ROM 203 or the external memory 211, a BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) that is a control program of the CPU 201, an operating system program (hereinafter, OS), and various programs described later necessary to realize the function of executing image management are stored.

[0035] 202 is a RAM that functions as the main memory, work area, etc. of the CPU 201. The CPU 201 loads programs and the like necessary for executing processing from the ROM 203 or the external memory 211 into the RAM 202 and realizes various operations by executing the loaded programs.

[0036] Also, 205 is an input controller that controls the input from an input device 209 such as a keyboard or a pointing device. 206 is a video controller that controls the display on a display device such as a display 210. These are used by the operator as needed.

[0037] 207 is a memory controller that controls access to an external memory 211 such as a hard disk (HD) that stores a boot program, various applications, font data, user files, edited files, various data, etc., a flexible disk (FD), or a compact flash (registered trademark) memory connected via an adapter to a PCMCIA card slot.

[0038] Also, the hard disk (HD) of the external memory 211 has a large-capacity memory area that stores recorded video with audio and audio files in the information processing device.

[0039] 208 is a communication I / F (interface) controller that connects and communicates with an external device via a network (for example, a wireless LAN, etc.) and executes communication control processing on the network. For example, communication using TCP / IP is possible.

[0040] Note that the CPU 201 enables display on the display device 210 by executing an outline font expansion (rasterization) process on, for example, a display information area in the RAM 202. Also, the CPU 201 enables user instructions with a mouse cursor (not shown) on the display device 210.

[0041] The processing of each step shown in the flowchart described below for implementing the present invention is executed by a computer-readable and executable program, and the program is recorded in the external memory 211. Then, it is loaded into the RAM 202 as necessary and executed by the CPU 201. Further, the definition file and various information tables used when executing the above program are also stored in the external memory 211, and detailed descriptions thereof will be given later.

[0042] Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3, the process of outputting the specified personnel information within the specified organizational information will be described.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a first flowchart for explaining an example of a personnel information output processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and each step from S301 to S315 is a process executed by the CPU 201 on the client terminal 100. In addition, when the subject of the process is the application server 101 as described above, each display step becomes a transmission step to the client terminal 100, and the input reception step from the user becomes a reception step from the client terminal 100.

[0044] The flowchart of FIG. 3 is, for example, the flow of a process that starts when an application of the present invention is executed on the client terminal 100 when a personnel staff wants to output employee information.

[0045] When the flowchart of FIG. 3 is started, first, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 displays a search condition selection screen on the display 210 of the client terminal 100. The search condition selection screen will be described with reference to FIG. 5.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image of a screen for selecting search conditions for data to be output to spreadsheet software, which is displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] 500 in Fig. 5 is an example of an image diagram of the entire search condition selection screen. 501 is a selected item in the radio button, and from the output conditions 511, it is possible to select which hierarchy of the organizational hierarchy diagram to display. In the case of 500, since "all departments" is selected as in 501, the organizational hierarchy diagram displays all departments of the corresponding company.

[0048] Also, when the "select all" checkbox 503 is checked, the organizational hierarchy diagram is displayed with all departments of the organizational hierarchy diagram in a selected state. The display example will be described later with reference to Fig. 6.

[0049] The checkbox 502 is a checkbox for selecting information to output to spreadsheet software. Since "employee information output" of 502 is selected, a process of outputting the employee information held by the database server 102 is performed.

[0050] When 502 is selected, a screen 510 for selecting a data list to output is displayed according to the information selected in 502. 510 is a data item held by the database server 102, and the data items in the database are listed below 510.

[0051] For example, if you want to output "employee code" and "employee name" from among the data items of 510, check the checkboxes of "employee code" 504 and "employee name" 505. Return to the explanation of the flowchart in Fig. 3.

[0052] In step S301 of Fig. 3, when the search condition screen is displayed, in the next step S302, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 receives an input of search conditions from the user. As search conditions, as described above in Fig. 5, for example, in a state where "all departments" (501) is selected (503), among "employee information" (502), conditions for outputting information such as "employee code" (504) and "employee name" (505) are received.

[0053] Next, in step S303, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 determines whether any of the following buttons on the screen displayed in step S301 has been pressed, and branches the processing.

[0054] When the "Search Button" 506 is pressed, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 transitions the processing to step S304, displays the organizational hierarchy diagram, and transitions to the processing of allowing the user to select information to be output to the spreadsheet software.

[0055] When the "Excel (Registered Trademark) Button" 507 is pressed, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 transitions the processing to step S313, and for example, without displaying the organizational hierarchy diagram under the search conditions of 500 in FIG. 5, transitions to the processing of outputting data to the spreadsheet software. Details will be described later.

[0056] When the "Close Button" 508 is pressed, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 transitions the processing to step S315, closes the screen of 500 in FIG. 5 being displayed, and ends the processing of the present invention.

[0057] The processing when the "Search Button" 506 is pressed and the processing transitions to step S304 will be described.

[0058] In step S304, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 displays the organizational hierarchy diagram screen. An example of the organizational hierarchy diagram will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[0059] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of an organizational hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the organizational hierarchy diagrams shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 show examples having organizational data as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 consists of organizational information 402 and personnel information 403 associated with that organization. Note that the personnel information 403 may have all of the field data displayed as a list in 510 of FIG. 5, or may have only a part of it. FIG. 4 shows a part of the field data. Also, there are some departments in FIG. 4 that display only the organizational information 402 and omit the personnel information 403.

[0060] 600 in FIG. 6 is an example of displaying an organizational hierarchy diagram of a company, and 601 is the top (root node) of the company organization. 602 is an organization one level below, 603 is an organization two levels below, and 609 is an organization three levels below. In the case of 600, 609 is a leaf node (lowest organization).

[0061] When the “−” button 608 is pressed, the following hierarchy (if it is the “−” button 608 of 603, the hierarchy 609 below 603) can be stored in 603 and displayed. The “−” button is a so-called collapse button, and the stored button 608 of 603 changes to a “+” button. When the “+” button is pressed, the hierarchy of 609 is displayed again, and 608 switches to the “−” button. By being able to collapse the organizational hierarchy like this button, the level of displaying the lower hierarchy can be selected. Since 609 is the lowest organization, there is no button corresponding to the collapse button 608.

[0062] In addition, the organization objects (each node, such as 601 to 603, 609, etc.) indicating the organizational hierarchy are displayed in white characters, and the organization objects (each node) displayed in white characters indicate the state (selected state) of selecting the personnel information of the organization to be output to the spreadsheet software. Conversely, when the organization object (each node) is displayed in black characters (for example, 801 in FIG. 8), it indicates that the corresponding organization object is in a non-selected state (non-selection state). When the "Excel (registered trademark) output button" 607 is pressed in the state of 600 in FIG. 6, it becomes possible to output the personnel information of the entire organization. The processing after pressing the "Excel (registered trademark) output button" 607 of the spreadsheet software will be described later in the processing after step S313.

[0063] 604 is an image obtained by shrinking the overall image of the organization information, that is, a so-called thumbnail image, and is a diagram showing which part of the entire organization the organization hierarchy diagram displayed in 600 shows.

[0064] 605 is the title when outputting to the spreadsheet software and is a value input by the user. 606 is a screen transition button. When the 606 button is pressed, a process of transitioning to the screen of FIG. 5 is performed. Also, by pressing 509 in FIG. 5, it is possible to transition to the screen of 600 in FIG. 6. Return to the description of the flowchart in FIG. 3.

[0065] According to step S304 of the flowchart in FIG. 3, when the organization hierarchy diagram screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, in the next step S305, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 accepts the input and operation of the user.

[0066] When accepting the input and operation of the user, the process transitions to the next step S306. In step S306, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 branches the process according to the pressed button (object).

[0067] In step S306, it is determined whether an organization object (for example, 601 to 603, 609, etc. in FIG. 6) in the organization hierarchy diagram is pressed by the user, or whether any other button is pressed. If an organization object is pressed, the process transitions to step S307. Hereinafter, the processes of steps S307 to S311 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12. The process of finally outputting the personnel information of the organization object selected in steps S307 to S311 to the spreadsheet software will be described later in steps S313 and S314.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of an organization hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an organization hierarchy diagram in which a region not displayed on the right side of the organization diagram in FIG. 6 is displayed. Note that the balloons such as 702 in FIGS. 7 to 12 and the text therein are explanatory texts for supplementing the operation explanation of the screen.

[0069] In 700 of FIG. 7, a region not displayed on the right side of the organization diagram in 600 of FIG. 6 is displayed, and an organization hierarchy consisting of nine layers is displayed as 703.

[0070] When an organization object (node) 701 is pressed by the user while an organization hierarchy such as 700 is displayed (Yes in step S306), next, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 transitions the process to step S307 and acquires whether the pressed organization object (node) is in a selected state or a non - selected state.

[0071] Since 701 in FIG. 7 is in white characters, it is in a selected state. Since it is in a selected state, the process transitions to Yes in step S307 and the process of the next step S311 is executed.

[0072] When the process transitions to step S311, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 changes the organization hierarchy below the pressed organization object (node) to a non - selected state. In the example of FIG. 7, the organization objects (nodes) below the organization object 701 are set to a non - selected state.

[0073] After the process of step S311, the application process returns to the process of step S304.

[0074] When the process returns to step S304, the organizational hierarchy diagram is displayed again. The screen image to be displayed at this time will be described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0075] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of the organizational hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an organizational hierarchy diagram showing the screen image after the organizational object 701 in FIG. 7 is pressed.

[0076] In 800 of FIG. 8, since the organizational object 701 has been pressed, the area surrounded by the broken line 802, which is the hierarchy below the organizational object 801, has been changed to a non - selected state (the state where the characters are displayed in black).

[0077] In step S305 in the state of 800, when the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 accepts the pressing of the organizational object 801, since the pressed button is an organizational object (Yes in step S306), the process transitions to step S307. In the next step S307, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 performs a determination process as to whether the pressed organizational object is in a selected state. In the case of 800, since the pressed organizational object 801 is in a non - selected state (the state where the characters are displayed in black), the determination branch in step S307 transitions to No, and the process of step S308 is executed.

[0078] In step S308, when the organization object is pressed, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 determines whether the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key is being pressed simultaneously. If the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key is pressed and the organization object is pressed, it is a judgment branch for changing the selection state of only the part below the pressed organization object without changing the selection state of the currently selected organization hierarchy diagram. If the organization object is pressed without the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key being pressed, the process transitions to step S309. If the organization object is pressed with the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key being pressed, the process transitions to step S310.

[0079] In the case of 800, the description continues with an example where the organization object 801 is pressed without the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key being pressed.

[0080] In the case of 800, since the organization object 801 is pressed without the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key being pressed, the judgment branch in step S308 transitions to No.

[0081] When the process transitions to step S309, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 changes the entire organization to a non - selected state.

[0082] After that, in step S310, the part below the organization object pressed in step S305 is changed to the selected state.

[0083] Returning to step S304, the displayed organization hierarchy diagram will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0084] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of an organizational hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an organizational hierarchy diagram showing the screen image after pressing the organization object 801 without pressing the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key in the state of FIG. 8.

[0085] In FIG. 9, only the area surrounded by the broken line 902, which is the hierarchy below the organization object 901, is displayed in the selected state (the characters are white characters). Note that the selected area is the same area as the area 401 in FIG. 4.

[0086] By such a selection method, the user can easily select the personnel information below the organizational hierarchy to be displayed. Also, not only is the selected state and the non-selected state simply switched, but since the organizational hierarchy below the unselected one is in the non-selected state, it becomes easier to obtain the personnel information below a certain organizational hierarchy from the state where the entire organization is selected by default, that is, the state where the personnel information of the entire organization can be obtained. This prevents mistakes such as the user accidentally outputting to spreadsheet software when the entire organization is not selected, and at least one of the personnel information of the entire organization or the personnel information of a predetermined organization can be surely obtained.

[0087] When the "Excel (registered trademark) button" 904 for outputting to spreadsheet software is pressed in the state of 900 in FIG. 9, the data of spreadsheet software as shown in FIG. 13 is output. Details will be described later.

[0088] In the state of 900 in FIG. 9, for example, when the organization object 903 is pressed, the processes from step S305 to step S310 can be executed in the same manner as above, and a display state as shown in FIG. 10 can be created.

[0089] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of an organizational hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an organizational hierarchy diagram showing the screen image after pressing the organization object 903 in the state of FIG. 9.

[0090] In the organizational hierarchy diagram 1000 of FIG. 10, the area 1002 that is below the organizational object 1001 in FIG. 10 corresponding to the organizational object 903 in FIG. 9 is displayed as a selected area in white text, and other organizational objects are displayed in an unselected state (black text).

[0091] In the state of FIG. 10, for example, the processing when the organizational object 1003 is pressed while pressing the "Ctrl" key will be described.

[0092] When the organizational object 1003 in FIG. 10 is pressed while pressing the "Ctrl" key, among the processes from step S305 to step S310, since it transitions to Yes in step S306 (the organizational object is pressed while the "Ctrl (Control)" key or the "Shift" key is pressed), in this case, the process of step S309 that makes the entire organization unselected is not executed, and the process proceeds to step S310. Therefore, the organizational object that is already in the selected state is not changed to the unselected state, and the area below the pressed organizational object is changed to the selected state. After the change, it transitions to step S304, and an example of the organizational hierarchy diagram to be displayed will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

[0093] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of an organizational hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an organizational hierarchy diagram displaying the screen image after the organizational object 1003 is pressed while pressing the "Ctrl" key in the state of FIG. 10.

[0094] In the organizational hierarchy diagram 1100 of FIG. 11, the area of the organizational object 1101 corresponding to below the organizational object 1003 is displayed in the selected state (white text display state) while the organizational object 1103 and below corresponding to below the organizational object 1001 in FIG. 10 remains in the selected state.

[0095] As described above, when you want to select multiple organizations with different hierarchies and output personnel information, you can select multiple organizations with different hierarchies and output their personnel information by pressing the organization object you want to output while pressing the "Ctrl (Control)" key or "Shift" key.

[0096] In the state of 1100 in FIG. 11, for example, the processing when the organization object 1102 is pressed will be described.

[0097] If you press the organization object 1102 in FIG. 11 without pressing the "Ctrl (Control)" key or "Shift" key, among the processes from step S305 to step S310, it transitions to No (the organization object is pressed without the "Ctrl (Control)" key or "Shift" key being pressed) in step S306. In this case, the process transitions to step S309 to set all organizations to the unselected state, and changes the selection status of all organizations to the unselected state. After that, in step S310, the organization objects below the organization object 1102 are changed to the selected state. After the change, it transitions to step S304, and an example of the organization hierarchy diagram to be displayed will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0098] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a screen image of an organization hierarchy diagram displayed on the display 210 of the client terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is an organization hierarchy diagram displaying the screen image after the organization object 1102 in the state of FIG. 11 is pressed.

[0099] In the organization hierarchy diagram of 1200 in FIG. 12, the organization objects below the organization object 1103 in FIG. 11 and the organization object area 1101 are also changed to the unselected state, and the area of the organization object 1201 corresponding to below the organization object 1102 is displayed in the selected state (state of white text display).

[0100] As in the above processing, by making the personnel information of the organization to be output in a selected state in the organizational hierarchy diagram as shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the organization to be easily output can be selected and output to spreadsheet software or the like. Return to the description of the flowchart in FIG. 3.

[0101] In step S303 of FIG. 3, if the "Excel (registered trademark) output button" 507 is pressed, or if the button pressed in step S306 is not an organizational object, the process transitions to the next step S312. The processing when the pressed button is the "Excel (registered trademark) output button" (for example, 607 in FIG. 6) will be described in steps S313 and S314.

[0102] In step S313, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 acquires the personnel information of the organization in a selected state among all organizations from the database server 102 via the application server 101.

[0103] In the next step S314, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 outputs the acquired personnel information for each organization to spreadsheet software. An example of the output information will be described with reference to FIG. 13.

[0104] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of data output to spreadsheet software according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] 1300 in FIG. 13 is an example of the data output to the spreadsheet software in the selection state of FIG. 9. As an example of the data output to the spreadsheet software, 1300 is output data that shows the upper hierarchy on the left side and the lower hierarchies as it progresses to the right. Since the topmost hierarchy in the selection state (white text display state) of FIG. 9 is the "Group A" (901) of the organizational object, the topmost hierarchy of 1300 is "Group A" as shown in 1301. In 1302 and 1303, the information of the employee code column 504 and the employee name 505 selected in FIG. 5 is output respectively, and it can be seen that an employee with an employee code of "200620" and an employee name of "Yoshihiko Fukuda" belongs to Group A. Also, in 1304, the organization of "Group A-2", which is a lower hierarchy of "Group A" 1301, is displayed, and in 1305, a plurality of personnel information is displayed.

[0106] In this way, the spreadsheet software may output in a hierarchical structure for easy viewing by the user, or may be fixed and output with "Affiliated Organization" in the first column, "Employee Code" in the second column, and "Employee Name" in the third column so as to be easy to handle as data. The format of the output data can be changed to be user-friendly.

[0107] As described above, in the present invention, when outputting information (for example, organizational data and personnel information) associated with hierarchical data, by selecting a hierarchical object (node), it is possible to easily output the information below the object. <Second Embodiment> In the first embodiment, in FIG. 5, the processing when the "Direct Selection Mode" 513 of the "Output Condition Column" 511 is off was described. In the second embodiment, the processing when the "Direct Selection Mode" 513 is on will be described.

[0108] In the case of the second embodiment, this is the process when the checkbox of the "direct selection mode" 513 is on. Even when all departments are in the selected state by default, the "direct selection mode" 513 sets the objects (nodes) of the organization selected by the user and below to the selected state, and sets the other organization objects (nodes) to the unselected state. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14.

[0109] FIG. 14 is a second flowchart for explaining an example of the personnel information output processing procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each step of S301 to S315 and S1201 is a process performed by the CPU 201 on the client terminal 100. Since the processes up to step S306 are the same as those in FIG. 3, the description thereof is omitted. The screen image displayed on the display of the client terminal 100 at the time of application startup displayed on the search condition selection screen of FIG. 5 is as shown in FIG. 7, and the entire organization is in the selected state (display state with white characters).

[0110] In step S306, when it is determined that an organization object has been pressed, in the next step S1201, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 determines whether all of the organization objects are in the selected state (display state with white characters). If all organization objects are in the selected state, the process transitions to step S1202. If there is at least one unselected organization object among the organization objects, the process transitions to step S307 in FIG. 3.

[0111] When the process transitions to step S1202, the CPU 201 of the client terminal 100 changes the entire organization to the unselected state.

[0112] Thereafter, in step S1203, the objects of the organization pressed in step S305 and below are changed to the selected state. Then, the process returns to step S304.

[0113] Return to step S304, and the displayed organizational hierarchy diagram will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The example of FIG. 9 is the result of screen transition when the organizational object 701 is pressed in the state of FIG. 7 (where all organizational objects are in the selected state).

[0114] In FIG. 9, since the organizational object 701 in FIG. 7 is pressed, the organizational object 901 corresponding to the organizational object 701 and the dashed-line area 902 below that organizational object are in the selected state (displayed in white characters). When the "Excel (registered trademark) output button" 904 is pressed in this state, the data in FIG. 13 can be output in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0115] By the above processing, even when the entire organizational hierarchy diagram is selected, the user can select the information of the organization the user wants to output with a single press, and can easily output the information (such as personnel information) below the organization selected by the user.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the case of applying to a plurality of information processing apparatuses has been described, but it may also be an information processing apparatus that operates alone, or the processing entities such as a plurality of servers on the network may be made common.

[0117] Although not particularly shown, information for managing a program group stored in a recording medium, such as version information, author, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, such as an icon for identifying and displaying a program, may also be stored.

[0118] Furthermore, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the above directory. Also, when the program and data to be installed are compressed, a program for decompressing may also be stored in some cases.

[0119] The functions shown in FIGS. 3 and 14 according to this embodiment may also be performed by a host computer using a program installed from the outside. And in that case, the present invention is applicable even when an information group including a program is supplied to an output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network.

[0120] As described above, it goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying a recording medium storing a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and causing a computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read and execute the program code stored in the recording medium.

[0121] In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel functions of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

[0122] As the recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a DVD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a non-volatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROM, a silicon disk, etc. can be used.

[0123] Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also based on the instructions of the program code, an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing, and it goes without saying that the case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the processing is also included.

[0124] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the case is also included where, after the program code read from the recording medium is written into the memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instructions of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0125] In addition, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or to an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention is also applicable to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus. In this case, by reading out a recording medium storing a program represented by software for achieving the present invention to the system or the apparatus, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0126] Furthermore, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on the network by a communication program, the system or the apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention.

[0127] Note that all configurations combining the above-described embodiments and their modifications are also included in the present invention.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0128] 100 Client Terminal 101 Application Server 102 Database Server 103 Internet 201 CPU 202 RAM 203 ROM 204 System Bus 205 Input Controller 206 Video Controller 207 Memory Controller 208 Communication I / F Controller 209 Input Device 210 Display Device 211 External Memory

Claims

1. a hierarchical diagram display control means capable of hierarchically displaying selected objects and non-selected objects; a receiving means for receiving a selection of an object displayed by the hierarchy diagram display control means; a selection control means for selecting and controlling a hierarchical level based on the object received by the receiving means in a non-selected state, and for selecting and controlling other hierarchical levels not including the object received by the receiving means in a non-selected state; An information processing device comprising:

2. When all objects displayed by the hierarchical diagram display control means are in a selected state, 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection control means controls selection by placing a layer based on the object accepted by the accepting means in a selected state and placing other layers not including the selected layer in a non-selected state.

3. A mode change means for changing an output mode; The information processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, when the output mode is changed by the mode change means, the selection control means selects a hierarchy based on the object accepted by the acceptance means as a reference and selects other hierarchies not including the selected hierarchy as a non-selected state.

4. 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object selected and controlled by said selection control means is an object lower in level than the object accepted by said acceptance means.

5. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the object selected and controlled in the non-selected state by said selection control means is an object that does not include any object in a lower hierarchy than the object accepted by said accepting means.

6. a data storage means capable of communicating with said object; an output means for acquiring data associated with an object selected by said selection control means and outputting said data; 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said output means outputs said data together with a hierarchical structure of a hierarchy of objects selected by said selection control means.

8. a hierarchical diagram display control means capable of hierarchically displaying selected objects and non-selected objects; a receiving means for receiving a selection of an object displayed by the hierarchy diagram display control means; a selection control means for selecting and controlling a hierarchical level based on the object received by the receiving means in a non-selected state, and for selecting and controlling other hierarchical levels not including the object received by the receiving means in a non-selected state; An information processing system comprising:

9. An information processing device, a hierarchical diagram display control step capable of hierarchically displaying selected objects and non-selected objects; a receiving step of receiving a selection of the object displayed in the hierarchical diagram display control step; a selection control step of selecting and controlling a layer based on the object received in the receiving step to a selected state and other layers not including the object received in the receiving step to a non-selected state when the object received in the receiving step is in a non-selected state; 2. An information processing method comprising:

10. A program for causing a computer to function as the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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