Array Variable Comment Export for Spreadsheet Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Development support devices for industrial controllers lack convenience and operability in allowing users to check and edit comments on variables that are descendant nodes in a tree data structure, such as array elements or structure members, as they cannot display these comments in a table form, requiring multiple user operations to access and manage them.
Innovation Solution
A development support device that includes an operation receiving unit for user instructions to output comments on variables as a data format file editable in text editors or spreadsheet software, associating comments with the ancestor variable's name and discrimination information to individually identify descendant variables, enabling easy checking and editing of comments on array elements and structure members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If comments on descendant variables are displayed in the conventional variable table interface, then users can check comments on array elements and structure members, but the interface becomes too complex to display hierarchical variable relationships clearly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the variable information display into two separate interfaces: a conventional variable table for parent variables and a tree diagram for descendant variables. This segmentation allows each interface to specialize in displaying specific types of information without overwhelming complexity, thereby preventing information loss while maintaining interface simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional representation (tree diagram) to display hierarchical variable relationships that cannot be effectively shown in the traditional two-dimensional table format. This dimensional change enables clear visualization of parent-child relationships between variables while keeping the conventional table interface simple.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple user operations are required to check comments on descendant variables, then the conventional variable table structure is maintained, but user operability and convenience deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tree diagram as an intermediary interface between the user and the hierarchical variable structure. This intermediary provides direct access to descendant variable comments through visual navigation, eliminating the need for multiple operations while preserving the stability of the underlying variable table structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary organization of variable hierarchy information in tree data structure format, allowing users to directly view and access descendant variable comments without requiring sequential operations to navigate through parent variables first.
3Loss of information
If a unified interface displays both parent and descendant variable comments, then information completeness is improved, but the clarity of hierarchical relationships deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the display of hierarchical information into two complementary views: the variable table shows parent variables with their comments, while the tree diagram separately displays the hierarchical relationships and descendant variable comments. This segmentation maintains information completeness while enhancing the clarity of hierarchical relationships through dedicated visual representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the tree diagram to represent hierarchical relationships in a dimensional format that naturally expresses parent-child connections through indentation and branching structures. This dimensional representation makes hierarchical relationships immediately detectable while preserving all comment information from the variable table.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a development support device that enables a user to easily check and easily edit comments on respective elements or the like of an array type variable. The development support device (10) outputs comments on respective array elements as a data format file which is editable in spreadsheet software, by associating the comments with a name of the array type variable and discrimination information for discriminating between the individual array elements with respect to the array type variable.