Abstract: An improved alphabet entry method is provided in which several particular keys are added to provide favorable operability when a sentence is entered with selection of an entry word candidate from a plurality of possible letter strings based on typing through a search of a word dictionary. Each of some of data keys (132 to 139) is assigned a plurality of letters of the alphabet, and each of some of the other data keys (131, 141) and some of control keys (117, 119, 120, and 122) is assigned only one of particular letters (A, S, U, E, I, and O) of the plurality of letters assigned to the some of the data keys simultaneously with the assignment to the some keys. Since an operator performs entry with the keys assigned only the particular letters to determine some letters in a letter string to be entered, candidates for a word are narrowed down to allow efficient word entry.

Abstract: Basic processes such as a document process, a calculation process, a communication process and a search process and operations are efficiently managed under unified file management so that various complicated processes can be handled additionally and in an expanded manner by a data processing system. Basic files of a centralized text format which allow each of physical files 142a, whose unique heading information is write time-of-day information thereof, to correspond to a plurality of logical files 142b can be operated in a unified manner on a plurality of screens displayed by switching of operation window 112. A file of any format can be annexed to each of the basic files, and operation window 112 provides means for allowing any program to be executed thereby to additionally provide the universality and the expandability to the data processing system.

Abstract: A plurality of keyboards are provided which are capable of inputting Japanese phonetic characters by letters and numerals and letters in English. In the Japanese phonetic character inputting mode, the numeric keys including “0” key 31 and “6” to “9” keys 26 to 29 are assigned as separator keys, the numeral keys including “1” to “5” keys 26 to 29 are assigned as code keys. In the English inputting mode, two symbol keys including “*” key 30 and “#” key 31 are assigned as code keys and the remaining keys are assigned as separator keys. Ten characters including M, Y, R, W, P, F, J, L, Q are input by sequential strokes of data keys following to a stroke of the “*” key, and letters G, Z, D, N, B, X, SPACE, <, >, <., >., and V are input by sequential strokes of data keys following to the strokes of the “#” key.

Abstract: A character input system (and method) is actualized using an “easy-to-operate” keyboard, which is downsized by reducing a number of keys and which has a good efficiency in performance and operation without increasing key-pressing numbers so much. The keyboard contains a first group of keys for inputting five vowel characters of Japanese in roman letters and a second group of keys for inputting consonant characters (and symbols). Herein, the first group of keys are separated in positions from the second group of keys on a panel of the keyboard. Two consonant characters are assigned to each of the keys of the second group in such a way that an unvoiced consonant character is input by a single key-pressing operation while a voiced consonant character is input by a double key-pressing operation.