Form generation system, form generation method, and form generation program

Abstract

To provide a form generation system, a form generation program, and a form generation method that easily perform generation of an input form.SOLUTION: A form generation system performs generation of an input form. The form generation device comprises: a reception unit; an acquisition unitt; a display processing unit; and a generation unit. The reception unit receives a designation of an object, which is a group of data to be stored for each data item. The acquisition unit acquires item information from the designated object on the basis of the designation of the object. The display processing unit processes and displays an input form generation screen containing an item list as a list of data items. The reception unit receives a designation of a data item selected from the item list. The generation unit adds a data input field as an input field for the data of the designated data item on the basis of the designation of the data item, and generates item information related to the data item for which the data input field is added and an input form associated with the data input field.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a form generation system, a form generation program, and a form generation method for generating an input form.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to collect questionnaires and customer information, technologies for easily generating forms have been developed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for automatically generating a form linked to a spreadsheet table.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] On the other hand, the technology described in Patent Document 1 is a technology for generating a form linked to a specific spreadsheet table, and it is not possible to easily generate an input form including desired items by displaying the data items of the storage destination on the screen and making selections.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel technology that displays available data items on the screen and easily generates an input form.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a form generation system for generating an input form, comprising a reception unit, an acquisition unit, a display processing unit, and a generation unit, The reception unit receives a designation of an object in which data input via an input form is stored, An object is a group of data stored for each data item, The acquisition unit acquires item information regarding a data item in an object from the designated object based on the designation of the object, The display processing unit performs display processing of an input form generation screen including an item list that is a list of data items in the designated object based on the designation of the object and the item information, The reception unit receives a designation of a data item selected from the item list, The generation unit generates an input form in which a data input field that is an input field for data of the designated data item is added based on the designation of the data item, and the item information regarding the data item to which the data input field is added is associated with the data input field.

[0008] With such a configuration, it is possible to easily generate an input form including a data input field related to a data item selected from the data items included in the object and displayed on the screen.

[0009] In a preferred form of the present invention, the item information further includes a required item setting regarding whether a data item is a required item for which input is required, The display processing unit performs display processing of a form generation screen that performs a preview display including a data input field of a data item for which input is required included in the designated object based on the item information, The generation unit generates an input form including a data input field related to a data item set as a required item.

[0010] With such a configuration, it is possible to automatically add a data input field for an item set as a required item in the object and generate an input form without forgetting to add a data input field for the required item.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the form generation system further includes a storage unit that stores input field information regarding input fields in a format corresponding to the data type regarding the format of data for each item, wherein the item information includes a data type regarding the format of data for each item, and the generation unit generates an input form including the data input field corresponding to the data type based on the data type of the specified data item.

[0012] With such a configuration, it is possible to easily generate an input form including data items in an object and data input fields suitable for the data types thereof with less effort on the part of the user.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display processing unit performs display processing of an input form generation screen that displays an image of a generated input form including a data input field in the specified data item based on the item information and the input field information regarding the specified data item.

[0014] With such a configuration, it is possible to generate an input form while confirming a preview display of the input form.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the input field information is information regarding an input field as a graphical user interface display, and the generation unit generates an input form including the data input field as a graphical user interface display corresponding to the data type based on the data type for each data item.

[0016] With such a configuration, it is possible to easily generate an input form including a data input field as a user graphical interface corresponding to the data type.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the form generation system further When the reception unit receives a user's designation, the display processing unit performs display processing of a list of selectable objects based on object information associated with the user information of the designated user. When the reception unit receives a designation of an object, the generation unit generates an input form for storing data input to the designated object.

[0018] With such a configuration, it is possible to select a desired object from a list of objects associated with user information and generate an input form.

[0019] In a preferred form of the present invention, the form generation system further When receiving data input via the input form, it includes a data management unit that issues a storage request to store the received data in a data item within the object corresponding to the data input field.

[0020] With such a configuration, it is possible to store the data input to the data item within the object corresponding to the data item of the data input field.

[0021] In a preferred form of the present invention, the input form generation screen includes the item list and a preview unit that performs a preview display of the form. When the display of the data item displayed in the item list is pressed and moved to the preview unit, the display processing unit performs display processing of the input form generation screen including the preview unit in which the data input field of the moved data item is displayed.

[0022] With such a configuration, it is possible to easily generate an input form while confirming the preview display of the form using a drag-and-drop operation.

Effects of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel technique for displaying available data items on a screen and easily generating an input form.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, the form generation system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various configurations can be adopted.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the configuration, operation, etc. of the input form generation system will be described. However, a method, apparatus, computer program having the same configuration, and a program recording medium storing the program can also achieve the same effects. A series of processes according to the present embodiment described below are provided as a computer-executable program, and can be provided via a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a flexible disk, and further via a communication line.

[0027] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a form generation system uses an API (Application Programming Interface) with a business system such as a customer information management system to generate an input form using data items of data managed by another system (such as a customer information management system), and stores the information received via the generated input form in another system. However, the form generation system may manage the information input via the generated input form in the form generation device.

[0028] <System Configuration> FIG. 1 shows a system configuration diagram of the form generation system 0. As shown in FIG. 1, the form generation system 0 includes a form generation device 1, a user terminal 2, and a form user terminal 3, and each component is configured to be communicable via a network NW. Further, in the form generation system 0 in this embodiment, the form generation device 1 is configured to be communicable with a data management system 4 via the network NW.

[0029] The form generation device 1 is an arbitrary computer device such as a server device configured to realize each functional configuration described later, and includes a reception unit 11, an acquisition unit 12, a display processing unit 13, a generation unit 14, and a data management unit 15. Further, it may be configured by a plurality of computer devices, such as a part of the functional configuration being arranged in another device configured to be communicable with the form generation device 1 such as the user terminal 2, and is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 1 as long as the above-described functional configuration can be realized as a whole. The form generation device 1 refers to the data managed by the data management system 4 by using the API, and uses it for processing related to the generation of the input form and processing related to the storage of the data input via the input form.

[0030] The user terminal 2 is any computer device such as a tablet-type terminal or a PC (Personal Computer) used by a user who generates an input form using the system. In the present embodiment, the user is a person who registers as a user in the form generation system 0, generates an input form using the form generation system 0, and collects customer information or the like using the generated input form. Further, in the present embodiment, the user further registers an account in the data management system 4, accesses the database DB, and manages data. However, when managing data in the form generation device 1 of the form generation system 0, it is not necessary to register an account in the data management system 4. Although only one user terminal 2 is illustrated in FIG. 1, there may be a plurality of them. In the present embodiment, a personal computer device such as a user's PC that installs a dedicated application or a dedicated browser application functions as the user terminal 2. Further, in the present embodiment, the user terminal 2 is also registered as a user in an external data management system 4 and is a terminal used by a user of the system who manages information regarding his or her customers and the like.

[0031] The form user terminal 3 is any computer device such as a tablet-type terminal or a PC used by a form user who inputs information via the input form generated in the form generation system 0. In the present embodiment, the form user is a customer or the like of the user and is a person who provides information to the user via the input form. Although only one form user terminal 3 is illustrated in FIG. 1, there may be a plurality of them. In the present embodiment, a personal computer device such as a form user's PC that installs an application for using the form generation system 0 such as a browser application functions as the form user terminal 3.

[0032] The data management system 4 is a system for managing data such as a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system for managing information on customers with whom a company conducts transactions, an SFA (Sales Force Automation) system for managing information in the company's sales department, etc., and includes a data management device 41 which is an arbitrary computer device such as a server device, and a database DB. Also, although not shown in FIG. 1, there may be a plurality of data management systems 4, and the form generation device 1 may cooperate with the plurality of data management systems 4 using an API. The database DB is a collection of data including objects managed in the data management system 4, and is stored in one or a plurality of information processing devices including a storage medium such as a server in the data management device 41 or the data management system 4.

[0033] The data management device 41 is provided with a cooperation unit 411 that cooperates with the form generation device 1 via an API and performs the transfer of information regarding an object including item information, input data input via an input form, and the like. Based on an object reference request received from the form generation device 1, the cooperation unit 411 transmits object information including an object name, identification information (such as an ID) of the object, and the storage location of the object, regarding the object managed in the database DB. In the present embodiment, based on the login information of the user's account in the user's data management system 4 (for example, identification information of the account such as the account name and ID input by the user) included in the object reference request received from the data management device 41, the cooperation unit 411 transmits the object information regarding the object managed in association with the account information of the identified account (managed by the user of the account identified by the login information) to the form generation device 1. The cooperation unit 411 transmits item information regarding the data items of the object specified based on the data item reference request received from the form generation device 1. The data item reference request includes identification information for specifying the object. Further, based on the storage request received from the form generation device 1, the cooperation unit 411 stores the input data input via the input form in the database DB. The storage request includes information for specifying the storage destination object (such as an object name and identification information), the input data, and information regarding the data item in which the input data is to be stored (such as the item name and identification information of the data item).

[0034] In FIG. 1, only one data management system 4 is shown, but there are multiple data management systems 4, and the data input via the input form may be stored in the data management system that manages the specified object selected from the multiple data management systems 4. Also, in this embodiment, the data management system 4 is a system that manages data such as a CRM system or an SFA system, and is a system configured by an information processing device other than the form generation device 1. However, the form generation device 1 of the form generation system 0 may have the function as the data management system 4.

[0035] <Hardware Configuration> FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the information processing device 10 (form generation device 1, data management device 41) includes, as a hardware configuration, a processing unit 101, a storage unit 102, and a communication unit 103. In this embodiment, a computer device such as a server or a personal computer can be used as the information processing device 10.

[0036] The processing unit 101 is composed of one or more processors such as a CPU, and controls the overall processing in the form generation device 1 by executing a form generation program, an OS (Operating System), and other applications. The storage unit 102 is composed of one or more memories such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), a flash memory, and a RAM (Random Access Memory), and stores a form generation program and various data. The communication unit 103 controls communication with the network NW and realizes data communication between the form generation device 1, the user terminal 2, and the data management device 41 in the data management system 4. The processing unit 101 causes the computer device to function as the form generation device 1 and executes the form generation method by executing the form generation program.

[0037] In this embodiment, the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 stores information such as object information, item information, and input field information necessary for generating an input form. Further, the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 stores information regarding the input form including the URL of the generated input form.

[0038] FIG. 2(b) is a hardware configuration diagram of the terminal device 20 (user terminal 2, form user terminal 3). The terminal device 20 includes, as a hardware configuration, a processing unit 201, a storage unit 202, a communication unit 203, an input unit 204, and an output unit 205. In this embodiment, as the terminal device 20, a smartphone, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, or the like can be used.

[0039] The processing unit 201 is composed of one or more processors such as a CPU, and controls the overall processing in the user terminal 2 by executing an OS and other applications. The storage unit 202 is an HDD, SSD, flash memory, RAM, etc., and stores a dedicated application for using the form generation system 0, a browser application, and various data. The communication unit 203 controls communication with the network NW and realizes data communication with other devices such as the form generation device 1 and the data management device 41. The input unit 204 is an input interface that receives operation requests from an operator and is composed of a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. The output unit 205 is composed of a display or the like that displays the processing result by the processing unit 201.

[0040] <Description of data configuration> Hereinafter, an example of the data configuration used in the form generation system 0 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0041] An object is a storage destination where data input through a generated input form is input, and is a group of data stored for each data item. In the present embodiment, the object is a data table such as customer information managed in the database DB of the data management system 4 such as a customer information management system. In the present embodiment, the data input through the input form is stored in the object in such a form that it is added as a new record to the already registered data (for example, the input customer data is added as new customer information to the data table of a group of customer information). In the present embodiment, the object is stored and managed in the database DB of the data management system 4. The object is a data table of data such as customer information, customer questionnaire results, and customer inquiry contents, which are stored and managed for each data item.

[0042] FIG. 3(a) shows an example of the data configuration of an object stored and managed in the database DB. The example shown in FIG. 3(a) is an example when the object is a group of customer information. The object shown in FIG. 3(a) is a group of customer information, and as data items, it includes data identification information (vendor ID), vendor name, contact information (email), contact information (phone), address (postal code), address (prefecture), address (city), and address (block number), and stores data corresponding to the data items for each column. Also, although not shown in FIG. 3(a), the object includes information about the data type, which is the form of the data of the data item set for each data item.

[0043] A data item is an item of data included in an object defined in the data management system 4. For example, when the object is a group of data related to a customer, the data items are data related to the customer such as the customer's name, company name, customer's address, and customer's contact information. A data type is the form of data set for each data item and defined in the data management system 4, in which the data is stored.

[0044] For example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), when the object is a data table of a group of customer information and includes the name of the business partner and the contact information as data items, the data type of the data item with the item name of the business partner name is set to text, and the data type of the data item with the item name of the contact information (email) is set to email address. In the present embodiment, data of the data type corresponding to the data item is input via the data input field for each data item arranged in the input form and stored as the data of the corresponding data item in the object. Further, the data input via the input form is added to the column of the corresponding data item in the object in such a form as to add a new row (record).

[0045] In the example shown in FIG. 3(a), the object is a group of a set of data in a form such as a data sheet, but may be in any form as long as it is a collection of data having the same data items, such as a group of customer information of individual customers. Further, the data stored in the object may contain blanks for any of the data items.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the data type is information indicating attributes of data including text (short text), text (long text), numerical value, geographical location information (latitude), geographical location information (longitude), currency, email address, telephone number, date / time. Further, in the present embodiment, the data type includes a selection list and a checkbox, and when any one is selected from a plurality of options for a predetermined data item in the object and stored as the data corresponding to the item (for example, when gender or the like is selected and stored), or when data selected from a binary option as a checkbox is stored (for example, when the necessity of email magazine delivery is stored as data), it is possible to receive the corresponding data via the data input field.

[0047] Also, although not shown, the acquisition unit 12 acquires, in advance, data type information regarding the data types used within the data management system 4 from the data management system 4 by using an API, and stores it in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1. The data type information is information regarding the format (data type) of the data stored in the database DB of the data management system 4, and includes identification information for managing the data type, a data type name (e.g., text, email address, etc.), and input restriction information. Further, the acquisition unit 12 may periodically acquire the data type information regarding the data types used in the data management system 4 and update it to the latest data type information. In the present embodiment, input field information regarding data input fields corresponding to the acquired data type information is stored in the storage unit 102 in association with each data type.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the data type information includes, for example, information regarding input restrictions (input restriction information) for each data type, such as when the data type is text (short text), only input within 20 characters in text format is accepted; when the data type is numeric, only input of numeric data is accepted; when the data type is an email address, only input of data in alphabetic characters and in email format (xxx@xxx.com, etc.) is accepted. In the present embodiment, the input restriction information includes information regarding the format (numeric or text) of the data to be stored, the data size, the character count limit, etc. Also, when there are a plurality of data management systems 4 and the form generation device 1 cooperates with the plurality of data management systems 4, the acquisition unit 12 may acquire, for each data management system 4, the data type information regarding the data types used in each data management system 4 from the plurality of data management systems 4 and store it in the storage unit 102. At this time, the form generation device 1 stores a plurality of data type information in each data management system 4, and performs processing regarding the generation of an input form and the storage of data, which will be described later, by referring to the predetermined data type information acquired from the data management device 41 that manages the specified object.

[0049] In FIG. 3(b), an example of item information acquired by the acquisition unit 12 and stored in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 is shown. The item information is information regarding data items of data included in an object. In the present embodiment, the item information is information regarding each data item in the object acquired from the data management system 4, and includes an item name regarding the name of the data item, a data type which is the format of the stored data, and a mandatory item setting regarding whether the data item is input-required or not. The mandatory item setting is a setting performed on the data management system 4 side. For example, in the case of an object regarding customer information, the customer name is set as a mandatory item, and it is a setting regarding whether the data item is input-required within the object. Even for data items with the same item name, when the stored objects are different, the data type and the mandatory item setting may be different. Although not shown in FIG. 3(b), in the present embodiment, the item information includes an API reference name as unique identification information for referring to data items in the object by cooperating with the data management system 4 using an API. However, when it is possible to refer to data items in the object using the item name, it may not include identification information (such as an API reference name or an ID) for referring. In the present embodiment, the item information is stored in the storage unit 102 in association with data type information and object information regarding the acquisition source object. The item information is stored in association with the generated input form and is used for the storage process of data input via the input form.

[0050] Also, in the present embodiment, the data acquired from the data management system 4 including the data type information and the item information and stored in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 is updated based on the latest data acquired by the acquisition unit 12 from the data management device 41 using an API.

[0051] Although not shown in FIG. 3, the form generation device 1 acquires object information regarding the objects managed in the data management system 4 from the data management device 41 via an API and stores it in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1. The object information is information regarding the object and includes identification information of the object for accessing the object managed in the data management device 41 using the API. However, it may also include information regarding the storage location of the object, identification information for referring to the object in the data management system 4 used during API cooperation, and the like. Further, in the present embodiment, the object information is stored in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 in association with information for specifying the account of the user who manages the object in the data management system 4 (API token unique to the account issued in the data management system 4 or account information in the data management system 4) for referring to the object in the database DB. It is used by the acquisition unit 12 to specify the object managed by the user and refer to the data of the object. The form generation device 1 performs API cooperation using the object information, specifies the object in the data management device 41, and makes requests for information regarding the object such as item information. Further, in the present embodiment, the object information is stored in association with the user information in the form generation system 0, and the user of the form generation system 0 can refer to the data (object) managed in another system such as the data management system 4.

[0052] Furthermore, the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 stores input field information regarding input fields corresponding to data types. In the present embodiment, the input field information is information regarding an input field as a graphical user interface display corresponding to a data type, is information regarding the display of a data input field when displayed in an input form, and is stored in the storage unit 102 in association with the data type information acquired from the data management device 41. For example, if the data type is text, the input field information corresponding thereto is the GUI (Graphical User Interface) display of a text box, if the data type is a checkbox, the GUI display of a checkbox, and if the data type is a selection list, information regarding a GUI display for making a selection from a plurality of options is stored in the storage unit 102 as the input field information.

[0053] In addition, in the present embodiment, the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 stores user information related to the user, and stores it in association with object information such as objects previously used by the user in association with the user information. The user information is data related to a user registered as a user of the form generation system 0, and includes the user's identification information, user name, contact information, etc. in the form generation system 0. Further, the user information may include identification information, account information, etc. used at the time of API cooperation such as the user's identification information and account-related information in the data management system 4 in order to cooperate with the data management system 4. As object information stored in association with the user information in the form generation system 0 stored in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1, identification information for specifying an object such as an object for which the user plans to generate a form or an object managed by the user may be included. In addition, the user information of the user in the form generation system 0 and the account information in the external data management system 4 are stored in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 in association with each other, and the acquisition unit 12 of the form generation device 1 is based on the account information linked to the user information. An object reference request including information (API token, account name, account identification information, etc.) for specifying the user's account in the data management system 4 is transmitted to the data management device 41, and data (object information) related to the object managed by the user in the data management system 4 may be acquired. At this time, in the external data management system 4, the database DB stores the object in association with the user's account information in the data management system 4 that manages the object.

[0054] <Functional configuration> The reception unit 11 performs a process of receiving data input in the terminal device 20 such as the user terminal 2. In the present embodiment, the reception unit 11 receives settings related to the generation of the input form, such as the designation of the storage destination object and the data items for adding input fields, input via the input form generation screen from the user terminal 2.

[0055] In this embodiment, the reception unit 11 receives, with respect to the setting of the input form, a designation regarding a data item for adding a data input field, detailed settings regarding each data input field such as the title and input example of the data input field, and settings regarding the display position such as the display order between the data input fields, and stores them in the storage unit 102.

[0056] The acquisition unit 12 communicates with the data management system 4 via the API, acquires various types of information necessary for generating an input form including data type information, object information, and item information, and stores them in the storage unit 102. The acquisition unit 12 makes a data type reference request in advance (before generating the input form) and acquires data type information regarding the data type in the data management device 41. The data type information acquired by the acquisition unit 12 in this embodiment is data type information regarding all data types set for the data managed in the data management device 41. Further, the acquisition unit 12 makes an object reference request and acquires object information regarding the objects managed in the data management system 4 from the data management system 4. In this embodiment, the object reference request includes the login information of the user's account in the data management system 4 (identification information for identifying the account, etc.). At this time, the acquisition unit 12 acquires the object information of the object associated with the account information, which is managed by a predetermined account specified based on the login information received by the reception unit 11 from the user terminal 2.

[0057] The acquisition unit 12 acquires item information regarding data items in an object based on the specification of the object input in the user terminal 2. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 12 makes a data item reference request and acquires item information regarding all data items included in the specified object from the data management device 41. With such a configuration, the user can select one or more desired data items from all the data items included in the specified object and generate an input form including data input fields for the desired data items. Further, the data item reference request includes identification information regarding the specified object, and may include information regarding an account in the user data management system 4 that manages the object received from the user as information for identifying the object (for example, login information including the identification information of the account).

[0058] In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 12 makes a data item reference request to the data management device 41 so as to pass on information (item information) regarding data items in the specified object based on the object information regarding the object specified by the user, acquires the item information, and stores it in the storage unit 102. Further, the acquired item information is stored in association with the object information regarding the object from which the item information was acquired and unique identification information for identifying the object. Also, in the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 12 acquires item information using an API from the data management system 4 which is an external system, but when the object is managed within the system, the location of the specified object may be specified by referring to the storage location information or identification information of the object included in the object information, and the item information may be acquired.

[0059] The display processing unit 13 performs display processing of various screens including an input form generation screen and an input form based on necessary information. In the present embodiment, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing of an input form generation screen including a preview unit that performs a list of data items and a preview display of the input form based on settings related to the input form input via the user terminal 2.

[0060] Based on the object information acquired by the acquisition unit 12, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing of an object list which is a list of selectable objects when selecting an object before displaying the input form generation screen. In the present embodiment, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing of a list of objects selectable by the user based on the object information stored in association with the user information of the user who generates the input form. The display processing unit 13 performs display processing of an input form generation screen for generating an input form in which input data is stored in the object selected via the object list. Also, in the present embodiment, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing of an input form generation screen including a preview unit that performs a preview display of the input form when the settings are actually reflected based on various settings related to the data input field received by the reception unit 11.

[0061] Also, when the display processing unit 13 receives a display request for an input form transmitted from the form user terminal 3, it performs display processing of the input form so that the input form is displayed on the screen of the form user terminal 3. In the present embodiment, the input form is a web page including one or more data input fields. The form user terminal 3 accesses a web page including the input form using a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or the like published by the user of the system, and inputs data via the input form.

[0062] The generation unit 14 generates an input form based on various settings related to the input form input on the user terminal 2 including the designation of an object and the designation of data items. In the present embodiment, the generation unit 14 generates an input form including a data input field which is an input field for data of the designated data item, based on the item designation by the user, the acquired item information, and the input field information. The generation unit 14 generates an input field in a format corresponding to the data type of the designated data item, based on the data type of the designated data item and the input field information. In the present embodiment, the input field information is a setting commonly applied to all users who generate an input form in the form generation system 0. However, for each user, a setting regarding the format of the data input field for each data item as the input field information may be stored in the storage unit 102 of the form generation apparatus 1, and the generation unit 14 may generate a data input field for each user based on the input field information for each user. Further, the generation unit 14 generates an input form including an input field corresponding to the data type of the designated data item, based on the data type for each data item included in the item information and the input field information. The generation unit 14 generates an input form in which item information regarding the data item of the data input via the input field is associated with respect to each input field of the respective data. Further, the generation unit 14 stores the generated input form in the storage unit 102 of the form generation apparatus 1 in association with information (such as object information) for specifying the object at the storage destination designated at the time of generating the input form. In the present embodiment, the generation unit 14 always generates an input form that necessarily includes data input fields for all data items set as required items included in the designated object, based on the item information including the required item setting for all data items acquired from the designated object. Further, the generation unit 14 may select a plurality of objects, generate one form, and store the data input via the data input field as the data of the corresponding data item in the corresponding object associated with the data input field. At this time, the data input fields of the generated input form are associated with the object and the data item.

[0063] In this embodiment, the input form generated by the generation unit 14 is a web page, and is stored in the storage unit 102 in association with information (such as a URL) for accessing the input form. Also, in this embodiment, when generating an input form, the generation unit 14 associates the generated input form with object information for identifying an object that is a storage destination where data input via the input form is to be stored, and item information regarding data items in the data input fields, and stores the form in the storage unit 102. Further, the input form may be used as a form embedded in an existing web page in such a manner that it is added thereto, and in this case, it is stored in the storage unit 102 in association with information (such as an HTML tag) for accessing the input form. Furthermore, the storage unit 102 may store in association with the input form for which a path (such as a URL) for identifying the web page where the form is to be embedded has been generated.

[0064] The data management unit 15 receives data input via the generated input form, transmits a storage request to the data management device 41, and causes the data to be stored in a specified object. In this embodiment, when the data management unit 15 receives data input via the input form from the form user terminal 3, it performs a process of requesting the data management device 41 as a storage request to store the data input to the object specified at the time of generating the input form, but it may also transmit an instruction to store the data in the storage unit 102 of a server device (such as the form generation device 1) within the form generation system 0 as a storage request.

[0065] The storage request is an instruction to store input data in an object. In this embodiment, it includes information for identifying the input data input via the data input fields included in the input form and the data items corresponding to the input data (such as identification information and item names included in the item information), and information for identifying the storage destination object associated with the input form (such as identification information and object names included in the object information). Also, when the input form includes a plurality of data input fields, the storage request includes information for identifying the input data and data items and information for identifying the object for each of the plurality of data input fields.

[0066] Further, the data management unit 15 transmits a storage request to the data management device 41 so as to store the input data as data of the data item of the name in the object, for example, based on the item information associated with the data input field, such as storing the data input via the data input field related to the data item of name as data of the data item of name in the object. In this embodiment, the data management unit 15 issues an instruction for data storage to the data management device 41 as a storage request. However, when the object is managed within the form generation system, a request may be directly made to the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 to store the input data as a storage request, and a process of causing it to be stored may be performed.

[0067] <Example of screen display> Hereinafter, in this embodiment, examples of the input form generation screen and the screen display of the input form that are subjected to display processing by the display processing unit 13 are shown.

[0068] In FIG. 4, an example of the screen display of the input form generation screen displayed when generating the input form is shown.

[0069] In FIG. 4(a), an example of the screen display of the input form generation screen W1 when a data item for adding an input field is specified is shown. The input form generation screen W1 is a screen that is displayed by the display processing unit 13 when generating an input form, and includes an item list W11 that is a list of data items included in the specified object, and a preview unit W12 that accepts input of settings related to the input form and displays a preview of the input form. The item list W11 is a list of data items included in the specified object that is displayed based on the item information, and the item names of selectable data items are listed. In the present embodiment, the item list W11 lists all data items included in the object and is configured to be selectable. The preview unit W12 is a screen that displays an image of the input form after creation, including a data input field related to the data item selected and added in the item list W11. Further, the input form generation screen W1 is provided with a save button, and when the save button is pressed, the generation unit 14 generates an input form based on various settings related to the input form input via the input form generation screen W1.

[0070] A data item for adding a data input field in the form is specified from the data items displayed in the item list W11 and added to the preview unit W12. In the present embodiment, when the display of the item name related to any of the data items displayed in the item list W11 (in the example shown in FIG. 4(a), "Contact Information (Email Address)") is moved from the item list W11 on the left side to the preview unit W12 on the right side by a drag-and-drop operation, a data input field corresponding to that data item is added to the preview unit W12. At this time, the reception unit 11 accepts the designation of the data item moved from the item list W11 to the preview unit W12 as the data item for adding a data input field. Further, in the present embodiment, the display of the item name related to the data item moved from the item list W11 and to which a data input field is added to the preview unit W12 is deleted from the item list W11, and is configured such that a plurality of data input fields related to the same data item are not added to the input form.

[0071] In this embodiment, when an object is selected, the display processing unit 13 displays and processes an input form generation screen W1 that initially includes data input fields for all data items set as required items (required data items) included in the specified object, based on the item information for the data items included in the specified object. Also, when there are multiple required items, the data input fields related to the required items are displayed in order from top to bottom in a predetermined order (for example, from the left side in the data table), but the display order may be changed based on user settings. Further, in this embodiment, the data input fields related to the data items set as required items cannot be deleted from the preview unit W12, and the generation unit 14 always generates an input form that is set as a required item and includes the data input fields related to the data items.

[0072] Also, when the save button is pressed with the data input fields corresponding to the selected data items added to the preview unit W12, the generation unit 14 generates an input form with the data input fields corresponding to the selected data items added. Also, regarding an already generated input form, the generation unit 14 may change the configuration of the input form based on the settings input via a screen having the same screen configuration as the input form generation screen W1.

[0073] Further, in the preview unit W12, by pressing the displayed pen icon, input fields, etc., the title of the form, the explanatory text of the form, the item name, the input example in the data input field, etc. can be selected, and further settings for the data input fields and the input form can be input, and the reception unit 11 can receive the input of the settings for the input form input via the preview unit W12. FIG. 4(b) shows an example of the screen display of the input form generation screen W1' when detailed settings for the data input fields are made.

[0074] Figure 4(b) shows an example when accepting detailed settings for the inquiry subject name. As shown in the figure, in the preview section W12, when a data input field is pressed and selected, a setting input field for accepting detailed settings related to the data input field, such as changing the title of the data input field "Inquiry Subject Name", the input example of the data input into the data input field, and the supplement of the data input field, is displayed, and input regarding detailed settings can be accepted. The reception unit 11 accepts settings related to the input form input via the input form generation screen W1 or each data input field included in the input form, and the generation unit 14 generates an input form based on the settings related to this input form or data input field. Also, in the example shown in Figure 4(b), settings related to individual data input fields, such as whether the input to the data input field is mandatory, can be accepted. Further, the reception unit 11 accepts various settings including the title of the input form, the explanatory text of the form, the name of the data input field, the display order of the data input fields, the input example and supplement related to the data input field, the default value of the data in the data input field and the setting regarding the display or non-display of the data input field, and the setting regarding whether the data input field is an input mandatory item, for the input form received in the preview section W12 included in the input form generation screen W1.

[0075] Also, the data input fields displayed in the preview section W12 can be moved by a drag-and-drop operation, and settings regarding the display position of the data input fields in the input form can be accepted based on the positions in the preview section W12. At this time, the generation unit 14 generates an input form corresponding to the display order in the preview section W12, for example, in the screen display example shown in Figure 4, such that the input field for "Inquiry Subject Name" is at the top.

[0076] In FIG. 5, an example of a screen display of an input form that is generated and displayed on the form user terminal 3 is shown. The input form display screen W2 shown in FIG. 5 is a form used as an inquiry form regarding inquiries from customers. In the present embodiment, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing using, as the input form, a form that was previously displayed in the preview section W12 of the input form generation screen W1. In the present embodiment, the form user terminal 3 accesses an input form as shown in the figure via a URL provided by the user who generated the input form, and inputs necessary data.

[0077] In addition, the data input fields displayed on the input form display screen W2 are data input fields corresponding to the data items selected and added by the user, and are input fields in a format corresponding to the data type of the data items. In the present embodiment, the data management unit 15 determines the data input based on the item information and data type information of the data items corresponding to each data input field included in the input form. When the input data in any of the data input fields is data that cannot be accepted under the input restrictions in that data input field, the pressing of the send button is not accepted and the storage process is not started. For example, for a data input field of a data item whose data type is an email address, the data input field only accepts the input of data in the email address format. When other formats of input are performed, a warning such as "Please enter an email address" is displayed below the input field and the input is not accepted. For the input of data that does not correspond to the data type of the data input field, a warning may be given and only the input of data of the corresponding data type may be accepted. At this time, even during the data input, the display processing unit 13 accepts the data input for each data input field. When the accepted data is determined to be unacceptable data based on the input restrictions (input restriction information) set for each data type, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing on the input form including a warning display. At this time, the warning display to be displayed may be a warning display corresponding to the data type of the data input field (for example, when the data input field is an input field that accepts data of a numerical data type, "Please enter a number", etc.). The above functions regarding the input restrictions and warnings of the input restrictions may be adopted for all forms generated by the form generation device 1, or may be adopted only for the forms of specific users or specific forms designated by the user based on the settings made by the user received by the reception unit 11 (settings for each user and / or settings regarding the input form).

[0078] Furthermore, the input form display screen W2 is provided with a send button. When the send button is pressed, the data management unit 15 makes a storage request to the data management device 41 to add, as a new record, the data input via the input form to the object associated with the input form. The data input via the input form may contain blanks for some data items, and records with blanks for some data items may be added to the object upon the storage request.

[0079] In this embodiment, an example of a data input field that is displayed on the input form generation screen W1 or the input form display screen W2 and accepts input will be described. The data input field is a graphical user interface display corresponding to the data type of each data item that is displayed based on the input field information. For example, if the data type is time, it is a GUI display configured to allow input of time from a display like a clock, and if the data type is date, it is a GUI display configured to allow input of a date by selecting a date on a calendar. Also, in this embodiment, when the data type is text, the data input field is a text box. However, for example, when the data types are different, such as text (short text) and text (long text), when the data type is text (short text), a text box that allows input of a small number of characters of text is displayed, and when the data type is text (long text), an input field that allows input of a large number of characters of text is displayed.

[0080] <Flow of processing> The following describes the processing flow when generating a form. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 12 transmits an object reference request including information for identifying a user's account in the user's data management system 4 in advance, and acquires object information from the cooperation unit 411. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 12 stores the acquired object information in the storage unit 102 in association with the user information in the form generation system 0, but the latest object information may be acquired each time a form is generated. In the present embodiment, the display processing unit 13 performs display processing of an object list based on the object information associated with the user information of the designated user. When the user inputs the designation of an object on the user terminal 2 that displays the object list (S201), the reception unit 11 receives the designation of the object, and the acquisition unit 12 transmits a data item reference request to the data management device 41 so as to transfer the item information regarding the data items in the designated object (S101). At this time, the acquisition unit 12 transmits a data item reference request including the identification information regarding the designated object to the data management device 41 based on the object information acquired in advance, and acquires the item information regarding the designated object. The cooperation unit 411 of the data management device 41 transmits the item information of the designated object to the form generation device 1 based on the data item reference request by the acquisition unit 12 (S401). At this time, the cooperation unit 411 of the data management device 41 may transmit the object itself and transfer the item information regarding the data items included in the object. The acquisition unit 12 acquires the item information transmitted from the cooperation unit 411 of the data management device 41 (S102). The display processing unit 13 performs display processing of a form generation screen including an item list based on the necessary information including the acquired item information (S103). On the user terminal 2, when a data item selected from the item list displayed based on the item information is selected by the user and an input is made for designating the data item for which a data input field is to be added to the input form (S202). The reception unit 11 receives the designation of the data item (S104), and the generation unit 14 generates an input form based on the necessary information including the designation of the data item, the item information, and the input field information.Also, there may be a plurality of selected data items to which data input fields are added, and the generation unit 14 may generate an input form with data input fields added for a plurality of data items. At this time, the generation unit 14 performs a process of storing the generated input form in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1 in association with information for specifying a storage destination including object information and item information regarding the storage destination object.

[0081] Hereinafter, the processing flow regarding the registration of data input via the generated form will be described. The form user terminal 3, which is a terminal device operated by a form user who is a customer or the like of the user who generated the input form and has acquired information for accessing the input form such as a URL, accesses the specified input form and makes an input form display request for displaying a screen (S301). The display processing unit 13 performs display processing on the input form based on the display request from the form user terminal 3 (S111). Also, on the form user terminal 3, data is input via the displayed input form (S302). Further, the data management unit 15 receives the input of the data input on the form user terminal 3 and sends a storage request, which is a request to the data management device 41 (S112). In the present embodiment, the data management unit 15 generates a storage request including the input data input via the input form, information for specifying the storage destination object (object name and identification information), and information for specifying the data item corresponding to the input data (item name and identification information) based on the object information and item information associated with the input form, and sends it to the data management device 41. The data management unit 15 makes a storage request to store the data input via the input form in the object specified using API cooperation (S411).

[0082] Also, in this embodiment, the form generation system 0 acquires information about an object such as item information from a data management system 4, which is another external system that manages objects through API linkage. However, when the object is managed in the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1, information about the object including item information may be acquired from the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1. Also, at this time, instead of a storage request, the data management unit 15 may store the input data input via the input form in the object of the storage unit 102 of the form generation device 1.

Explanation of Signs

[0083] 0 Form generation system 1 Form generation device 2 User terminal 3 Form user terminal 4 Data management system 41 Data management device 11 Reception unit 12 Acquisition unit 13 Display processing unit 14 Generation unit 15 Data management unit 411 Linkage unit

Claims

1. A form generation system for generating an input form, comprising: a reception unit, an acquisition unit, a display processing unit, and a generation unit; the reception unit receives a designation of an object in which data input via the input form is stored; the object is a group of data stored for each data item; the acquisition unit acquires item information regarding a data item in the designated object from the designated object based on the designation of the object; the display processing unit performs display processing on an input form generation screen including an item list which is a list of data items in the designated object based on the designation of the object and the item information; the reception unit receives a designation of a data item selected from the item list; the generation unit generates an input form in which a data input field which is an input field for data of the designated data item is added based on the designation of the data item, and the item information regarding the data item to which the data input field is added is associated with the data input field; A form generation system.

2. The item information further includes a mandatory item setting regarding whether the data item is a mandatory item for which input is required; the display processing unit performs display processing on an input form generation screen for performing a preview display including a data input field of a data item for which input is mandatory included in the designated object based on the item information; the generation unit generates an input form including a data input field regarding a data item set as a mandatory item; The form generation system according to claim 1.

3. The form generation system further comprises: a storage unit that stores input field information regarding an input field in a format corresponding to a data type regarding the format of data for each item; the item information includes a data type regarding the format of data for each item; the generation unit generates an input form including the data input field corresponding to the data type based on the data type of the designated data item; The form generation system according to claim 1.

4. The display processing unit performs display processing on the input form generation screen for displaying an image of the generated input form including the data input field in the designated data item based on the item information and the input field information regarding the designated data item; The form generation system according to claim 3.

5. The input field information is information regarding an input field as a graphical user interface display, The generation unit generates an input form including the data input field as a graphical user interface display corresponding to the data type, based on the data type for each data item. The form generation system according to claim 4.

6. The form generation system further includes When the reception unit receives a user's designation, the display processing unit performs display processing of a list of selectable objects based on object information associated with the user information of the designated user. When the reception unit receives a designation of an object, the generation unit generates an input form for storing the data input to the designated object. The form generation system according to claim 1.

7. The form generation system further includes a data management unit that, when receiving data input via an input form, issues a storage request to store the received data in a data item within an object corresponding to the data input field. The form generation system according to claim 1.

8. The input form generation screen includes the item list and a preview unit that performs preview display of the form. When the display of a data item displayed in the item list is pressed and moved to the preview unit, the display processing unit performs display processing of the input form generation screen including the preview unit in which the data input field of the moved data item is displayed. The form generation system according to claim 1.

9. A form generation method for generating an input form, implemented by a computer, comprising: a reception step, an acquisition step, a display processing step, and a generation step; In the reception step, a designation of an object in which data input via an input form is to be stored is received. An object is a group of data stored for each data item. In the acquisition step, based on the designation of the object, item information regarding data items within the designated object is acquired from the designated object. In the display processing step, based on the designation of the object and the item information, display processing of an input form generation screen including an item list that is a list of data items within the designated object is performed. In the reception step, a designation of a data item selected from the item list is received. In the generation process, based on the designation of the data item, a data input field, which is an input field for the data of the designated data item, is added, and an input form in which the item information regarding the data item to which the data input field is added is associated with the data input field is generated. Form generation method.

10. A form generation program for generating an input form, causing a computer to function as a reception unit, an acquisition unit, a display processing unit, and a generation unit, wherein the reception unit receives a designation of an object in which data input via the input form is stored, the object being a group of data stored for each data item, the acquisition unit acquires item information regarding the data item in the designated object from the designated object based on the designation of the object, the display processing unit performs display processing of an input form generation screen including an item list which is a list of data items in the designated object based on the designation of the object and the item information, the reception unit receives a designation of a data item selected from the item list, and the generation unit generates an input form in which a data input field, which is an input field for the data of the designated data item, is added based on the designation of the data item, and the item information regarding the data item to which the data input field is added is associated with the data input field. Form generation program.

Images