Operation apparatus, image forming apparatus having the same, and operation method

An image forming apparatus having an operation apparatus, the operation apparatus comprising:

• a touch display panel which selectably displays at least a plurality of function item keys, and selection item keys corresponding to each of the plurality of function item keys;
• an acceptance unit which causes the touch display panel to display a function selection screen where the plurality of function item keys are displayed and a function setting screen where a plurality of selection item keys that correspond to a function item key selected from the plurality of function item keys are displayed;
• a shortcut acceptance unit which generates an icon-attached function item key by pasting an icon indicating a shortcut of one function item key to a pasting target function item key which is the other function item key selected from the plurality of function item keys, the one function item key being selected from the plurality of function item keys and different from the pasting target function item key, the shortcut acceptance unit causing the touch display panel to selectably display the icon-attached function item key which replaces the pasting target function item key at a same location thereof, and accepting a selection of the icon-attached function item key;
• an integrated screen selection acceptance unit which, when the shortcut acceptance unit accepts the selection of the icon-attached function item key, causes the touch display panel to display an integrated selection screen which selectably displays one selection item key and the other selection item key simultaneously in a plurality of areas separate from each other of a same screen, the one selection item key corresponding to the pasting target function item key that configures the icon-attached function item key, and the other selection item key corresponding to the one function item key that is identified by the icon, and the integrated screen selection acceptance unit accepting a selection of selection item keys;
• and
• a selection item prohibition unit which prohibits acceptance of a selection of a prohibited selection item key that is not selectable in combination with a predetermined selection item key, when the predetermined selection item key is selected by a user in a case in which the integrated screen selection acceptance unit accepts the selection of selection item keys.

An operation method for an operation apparatus to accept a selection of a selection item key from a user among a plurality of selection item keys corresponding to function item keys, the method comprising:

• a step performed by the operation apparatus for causing a touch display panel to selectably display at least a plurality of function item keys, and selection item keys corresponding to each of the plurality of function item keys;
• a step performed by the operation apparatus for causing the touch display panel to display a function selection screen where the plurality of function item keys are displayed, and a function setting screen where a plurality of selection item keys that correspond to a function item key selected from the plurality of function item keys are displayed;
• a step performed by the operation apparatus for generating an icon-attached function item key by pasting an icon indicating a shortcut of one function item key to a pasting target function item key which is the other function item key selected from the plurality of function item keys, the one function item key being selected from the plurality of function item keys and different from the pasting target function item key, the operation apparatus causing the touch display panel to selectably display the icon-attached function item key which replaces the pasting target function item key at a same location thereof, and for accepting a selection of the icon-attached function item key;
• and;
• a step performed by the operation apparatus for causing, when the selection of the icon-attached function item key is accepted, the touch display panel to display an integrated selection screen which selectably displays one selection item key and the other selection item key simultaneously in a plurality of areas separate from each other of a same screen, the one selection item key corresponding to the pasting target function item key that configures the icon-attached function item key, and the other selection item key corresponding to the one function item key that is identified by the icon, and the operation apparatus for accepting a selection of selection item keys;
• wherein a selection item prohibition unit which prohibits acceptance of a selection of a prohibited selection item key that is not selectable in combination with a predetermined selection item key, when the predetermined selection item key is selected by a user in a case in which the integrated screen selection acceptance unit accepts the selection of selection item keys.