JP2002157155A - File management device, file management method and computer-readable recording medium recorded with file management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily manage plural virtually-connected files. SOLUTION: This file management device has a first display means displaying the plural associated files by one thumb-nail, a mouse pointer (S31) for indicating the displayed thumb-nail, and a second display means (S33) responding to the indication and displaying a file name display window which displays information of the plural associated files.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file management apparatus, a file management method, and a computer-readable recording medium on which a file management program is recorded, and more particularly, to a file management apparatus, a file management method, and a file for facilitating file operations. The present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium recording a management program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a personal computer has been equipped with a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as a "GUI") for improving the convenience of operation. The GUI displays an image when data such as an image file or a document file is opened as a small thumbnail, so that the user can easily understand what the file is. Also, a plurality of files created by different applications, such as an image file and a document file, are associated with each other and displayed as a virtual file as a thumbnail. In this case, in the thumbnail, a plurality of files are sequentially displayed by turning the page.

[0003]

However, when displaying a plurality of files virtually combined with one thumbnail, only one file is displayed. In order to know all the files that were virtually combined, the thumbnails had to be turned one page at a time and checked, or the virtual combination had to be canceled and handled as separate files, which was inconvenient. .

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a file management apparatus and a file management apparatus capable of easily managing a plurality of files that are virtually combined. An object of the present invention is to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which a management method and a file management program are recorded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a file management apparatus, a file management method, and a computer-readable recording recording a file management program which can individually perform a predetermined process on a plurality of files virtually joined. Is to provide a medium.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file management apparatus, comprising: a first display unit for displaying a plurality of files associated with each other as one thumbnail; Instruction means for indicating the displayed thumbnail, and second display means for displaying information of a plurality of files associated with the instruction in response to the instruction.

According to the present invention, a plurality of associated files are displayed as one thumbnail, and information of the plurality of associated files is displayed in response to an instruction of the displayed thumbnail. For this reason, it is possible to provide a file management device capable of easily managing a plurality of associated files.

[0008] Preferably, the information of the plurality of associated files is a file name. According to the present invention, since the file name is displayed, a plurality of files can be easily determined.

Preferably, the file management device further includes a selection unit for selecting at least one of the displayed file information, and a processing unit for performing a predetermined process on a file corresponding to the selected file information. .

According to the present invention, at least one of the displayed file information is selected, and a predetermined process is performed on a file corresponding to the selected file information.
Therefore, it is possible to provide a file management device capable of individually performing a predetermined process on a plurality of files associated with each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a file management method includes the steps of displaying a plurality of associated files as one thumbnail, receiving an instruction of the displayed thumbnail, and responding to the instruction. Displaying all the information of the plurality of associated files.

According to the present invention, a plurality of associated files are displayed as one thumbnail, an instruction for the displayed thumbnail is accepted, and information of the plurality of associated files is displayed in response to the accepted instruction. All are displayed. For this reason, it is possible to provide a file management method capable of easily managing a plurality of associated files.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable recording medium having a file management program recorded thereon includes a step of displaying a plurality of associated files as one thumbnail, and an instruction of the displayed thumbnail. And a file management program for causing a computer to execute the step of receiving all the information of the plurality of files associated with the instruction in response to the instruction.

According to the present invention, a plurality of associated files are displayed as one thumbnail, an instruction for the displayed thumbnail is received, and information of the plurality of associated files is displayed in response to the received instruction. All are displayed. Therefore, it is possible to provide a computer-readable recording medium on which a file management program capable of easily managing a plurality of associated files is recorded.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or corresponding members, and description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a file management apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a file management device 100 can be constituted by a personal computer or the like, and includes a control unit 101 for controlling the entire file management device, an input unit 105 for inputting data, a data And a storage unit 103 for storing data, an output unit 107 for outputting data, and an external storage device 109 for storing a program to be executed by the control unit 101 and the like.

The control unit 101 includes a central processing unit (CPU)
And a read-only memory (ROM) for storing a program to be executed by the CPU, and a random access memory (RAM) for storing variables and the like required when the program is executed by the CPU.

The input unit 105 is a keyboard, a mouse, or the like, and is capable of inputting characters or numbers, or a predetermined instruction command.

The storage unit 103 stores data such as sentences or images. These data are, for example, a data file created by an application program of a word processor, a data file created by an application of spreadsheet software, a data file for storing an image read by a digital camera or an image scanner, or , Data files created by various other application programs. The data file stored in the storage unit 103 does not depend on the application program in which it was created.

The storage unit 103 has a plurality of folders, and can store data files by classifying the folders. For example, a folder A may store a data file created by a word processor, and a folder B may store a data file created by spreadsheet application software. Furthermore, a folder may be created for each case, or a folder may be created for a predetermined period based on the date on which the data file was created. These folders are created by a well-known application program.

The output unit 107 is a display, and displays a data file as a thumbnail according to an instruction from the control unit 101. Thereby, a plurality of data files can be displayed simultaneously. Note that the output unit 107 may be a printer.

The external storage device 109 reads a program or data recorded on a computer-readable recording medium 111 and transmits the program or data to the control unit 101. The control unit 10
In accordance with the instruction from 1, the necessary data is written to the computer-readable recording medium 111.

As the computer-readable recording medium 111, a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape,
Magnetic disk (flexible disk, hard disk device, etc.) and optical disk (CD-ROM / MO / MD / D
VD, etc.), a card system such as an IC card (including a memory card) or an optical card, or a mask R
It is a medium that fixedly carries a program, such as a semiconductor memory such as an OM, an EPROM, and a flash memory. Further, the recording medium 111 may be a medium that carries the program fluidly so that the program can be downloaded from the network.

The control unit 101 can execute the read program by reading the file management program recorded on the recording medium 111 with the external storage device 109.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a file configuration of the file management device 100 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, the control unit 101 executes a file management program. The storage unit 103 has four folders 201,
11, 221 and 231 are included. Folders 201 and 2
11, 221 and 231 classify a plurality of data files. Here, the folder 231 is a folder that is not managed by the file management program,
The case where 01, 211, and 221 are folders to be managed by the file management program will be described.

In FIG. 2, three data files 205, 207, and 209 are stored in a folder 201, and three data files 21 are stored in a folder 211.
5, 217, and 219 are stored in the folder 221.
Stores three data files 225, 227, and 229, and the folder 231 stores three data files 235, 237, and 239.

Folders 201, 211, 22 to be managed
1 includes a management information file 20 in addition to the data file.
3, 213 and 223 are respectively stored. on the other hand,
Only three data files 235, 237, and 239 are stored in the folder 231 not to be managed, and no management information file is stored.

Management information files 203, 213, 223
Is created by the control unit 101 executing the file management program. The management information file includes file information of a data file stored in a folder in which the management file is stored. For example, regarding the folder 201, the management information file 203 includes file information of three data files 205, 207, and 209. Regarding the folder 211, the management information file 213 includes three data files 215, 217, and 2
The management information file 223 includes file information of three data files 225, 227, and 229. The file information includes attribute information of the data file and additional information.

As described above, one management information file is stored in one folder to be managed, and the management information file includes file information of only data files stored in the folder.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a file management process performed by the file management apparatus according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 3, file management device 100 determines whether a specific folder A among folders stored in storage unit 103 has been designated as a management target (step S1). The designation of the folder is performed by the operator of the file management device 100 using the input unit 105. Here, for the sake of simplicity, the designated folder will be described as folder A.

If the folder A has been designated, the process proceeds to step S2; otherwise, the process ends. In step S2, attribute information of all data files in folder A is collected. The attribute information here is, for example, the file name, the file size, and the update date and time of the data file.

In the next step S3, a management information file is created by associating the attribute information of each data file with the additional information. At this point, only additional information items are created, and the data is empty with no content. Then, the created management information file is stored in the folder A specified in step S1.

In the next step S4, it is detected whether or not a data file has been newly added to the folder A. If added, the process proceeds to step S5; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S5, the attribute information of the added data file and the additional information are associated with each other and added to the management information file.

On the other hand, in step S6, it is determined whether or not a file has been deleted from folder A. If deleted, the process proceeds to step S7; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S8 without executing step S7. In step S7, the attribute information and the additional information of the deleted data file are deleted from the management information file.

In step S8, it is determined whether or not the folder A has been excluded from the management target. If it has been removed, the process proceeds to step S9; otherwise, the process returns to step S4 and the above-described processing is repeated. In step S9, the management information file is deleted from folder A.

By simply deleting the management information file from the folder A, the data file stored in the folder can be excluded from the management target of the file management device.

The addition of a data file to a folder, the deletion of a data file from a folder, or the deletion of a folder
The instruction is performed under the control of the file management program executed by the control unit 101, and the instruction is issued by the file management apparatus 100.
Is performed using the input unit 105.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a file management program activation process performed by the file management apparatus according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG.
When the file management program is started, it is determined whether or not all specified storage devices have been searched (step S11).

Here, it is assumed that the storage unit 103 has a plurality of storage devices. All the designated storage devices are the storage devices designated by the operator of the file management device 100 using the input unit 105 among the plurality of storage devices. Note that all or only some of the storage devices included in the storage unit 103 may be specified. Further, an external storage device 109 may be added in addition to the storage unit 103. The search refers to extracting a folder having a management information file from folders stored in the storage unit 103 or the external storage device 109.

One of the designated storage devices that has not been searched yet is selected (step S12), and the search for the folder having the management information file in the selected storage device is completed. It is determined whether or not this is the case (step S13). If the search has been completed, the process proceeds to step S11. If the search has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, one of the folders stored in the designated storage device is selected, and it is determined whether or not the management information file is stored in that folder (step S15). If there is a management information file, the process proceeds to step S16; otherwise, the process returns to step S13.

In step S16, the information of the folder storing the management information file is registered in the management table.
The folder information is the access path of the folder and the name of the management information file. As the access route, a direct path or a relative path can be used. The management table includes information that associates an access path to a folder having a management information file with a name of the management information file.

When the start-up process is completed, the folder having the management information file is immediately obtained by looking at the management table. The contents of the management information file may be included in the management table.

In the present embodiment, the process of starting the file management program is performed when the file management program is started. However, the search and registration of the folder to be managed can be executed even at times other than the start. It is possible.

As described above, the file management apparatus according to the present embodiment has a management information file for each folder, and searches for a folder having the management information file when the file management program is started. As a result, files stored in the external storage device 109 that can be temporarily connected to or disconnected from the file management device 100 can be included in the management target regardless of whether the external storage device 109 is connected. That is, when the external storage device 109 is connected to the file management device 100, it can be set as a management target, and when the external storage device 109 is disconnected, it is not set as a management target.

Also, a case where a file managed by another file management device is stored for each folder in the storage unit 103 via a recording medium such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a network or a removable drive, or the like. However, the data file stored in the folder can be immediately included in the management target.

Further, a portable terminal equipped with a storage device, a scanner, a multifunction machine combining a scanner and a printer, or a copier capable of receiving data from a personal computer and printing the data, etc. If connection is possible, data files in those storage devices can be managed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the additional information editing process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 5, in the additional information editing process, first, a file in the management target folder is selected (step S21). The selection of the file is performed by the operator of the file management apparatus 100 using the input unit 105. Here, the selected file will be described as a file F.

Then, a keyword editing window is read from the storage unit 103 (step S22) and displayed on the output unit 107. Thereafter, the input unit 10 is operated by the operator.
Input, change, or deletion of a keyword is performed from step 5 (step S23). Next, when the execution of the process is instructed by the operator, the contents of the edited keyword are stored in the management information file stored in the management target folder (step S24). Then, the keyword editing window output to the output unit 107 is closed (Step S).
25).

The keyword editing window may be provided with a column for inputting a comment. A window for inputting a comment is displayed on the output unit 107 separately from the keyword editing window. It may be performed.

In addition to the keyword and the comment, a marker represented by an image may be associated with the selected file. A marker is an image image, for example, a line, a character, a figure, a symbol, or
These are combinations.

For the marker as additional information, the position in the data file and the shape of the marker are stored in the management information file. For example, when a red thin line is added to the first line of the first page of the data file, information of “red thin line” is stored as the shape of the marker, and a straight line with the origin at the upper left corner of the document is stored as position information. The coordinates of the start point and end point of are stored.

The designation of the shape and position of the marker is performed by the operator using the input unit 105. The file F is output to the window of the output unit 107. The operator can check the contents of the file F on the output unit 107. In this state, the position and size of the marker are input by selecting the shape of the marker and inputting the marker on the output unit 107 on which the contents of the file F are displayed by drawing the marker. It is convenient if the marker can be moved or deformed in a similar manner. The window for entering the marker is
It may be displayed simultaneously with the window for inputting a keyword or a comment, or may be displayed separately.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a management information file created by the file management device 100 according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 6, the management information file has an item “Name” indicating the name of the data file.
Item "Size" indicating the size of the data file, item "Date" indicating the date of update of the data file, and item "Keywor" indicating a keyword related to the data file.
d ", an item" Comment "indicating a comment associated with the data file, an item" Marker "indicating the presence or absence of a marker associated with the data file, and an item" Link "indicating an association between the data files.

For example, for a data file whose file name is "file 1," the file size is 16 KB.
It is understood that the updated date and time is 00/01/26, "management" and "search" are selected as keywords, "circulation in the department" is attached as a comment, and a marker is attached. . When the file name is “File 3”, since “File 1” is registered in the “Link” item, File 1 and File 3 are associated, and File 1 and File 3 are as if
File management device 100
Dealt with.

More specifically, all of the plurality of data files associated with the Link item are read from the plurality of data files associated with the Link item. At this time, even when a plurality of data files are created by different application programs, the application program corresponding to the data file is started, all of the plurality of data files are read, and an output image is created. After that, the output unit 107
Is displayed as one thumbnail. By turning the thumbnails page by page, the contents of a plurality of data files are displayed in order.

In the present embodiment, the markers are indicated by "YES" or "NO". "YE
In the case of "S", the image file of the marker is associated. Further, the image data of the marker may be included in this item of the management information file.

It is preferable that the management information file has a name associated with the name of the folder to be managed. Also, it is preferable to use a special file format so that the contents of the management information file are not changed by other software.

As described above, in the file management apparatus according to the present embodiment, the management information file including the additional information of the data file is created for each folder.
There is no need to consider the folder where the data files are stored. Therefore, a plurality of files can be easily managed without considering a folder. Further, since the management information file can be included in the folder to be managed just by being present in the folder, the data file can be easily managed.

Since the management information file includes a file size, an update date and time, and a keyword corresponding to the data file name, the data file can be selected or searched using these items.

Further, the management information file includes “L” for associating a certain data file with another data file.
Ink "items allow multiple data files to be easily associated.

Further, since the associated data file is displayed as one thumbnail, the operator can treat the associated data file as one file.

Further, by deleting the management information file from the folder, the data file can be excluded from the management target, and the operation is easy.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the detailed display process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 7, it is determined whether or not the mouse pointer has been set to a thumbnail using a pointing device such as a mouse (step S31). When the mouse pointer is set on the thumbnail, the process proceeds to step S32, and otherwise, step S31 is repeated. This process may be an interrupt process, and an interrupt may be generated when the mouse pointer is moved to a thumbnail, and the process described below may be performed.

In the next step S32, it is determined whether or not the thumbnail pointed to by the mouse pointer is a virtually combined file. If the file is a virtual combination, the process proceeds to step S33; otherwise, the process ends. Whether or not the virtual connection is made is determined by referring to the management information file.

In step S33, a file name display window for displaying the file names of a plurality of virtually combined files is displayed. In the file name display window,
All file names of multiple files that are virtually joined are displayed. In addition to the file name, information on the file, for example, the size of the file, the name of the created application, the update date, and the like may be displayed.

In the next step S34, it is determined whether or not the mouse pointer has been moved to any of the plurality of files displayed in the file display window. If it is determined that they have been matched, the process proceeds to step S35,
Otherwise, the file display window is closed (step S39), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the mouse pointer has been set to one of the file names displayed in the file display window, an operation list window for displaying a file operation list is displayed (step S35).
Then, it is determined whether or not there is an operation instruction (step S36). If there is an operation instruction, step S38
Otherwise, the displayed operation list window is closed (step S37), and then the process proceeds to step S34.

On the other hand, if there is an operation instruction, in step S38, an instruction with the mouse pointer set in the operation list window is performed on the file with the mouse pointer set in step S34 (step S38). . The operation instruction includes an operation of opening (starting) a file, an operation of deleting a file, an operation of copying a file, and the like. The operation instruction is, for example, an operation of clicking or double-clicking the mouse with the mouse pointer set.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a file display window displayed on the display in the detailed display processing performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, a screen 300 displayed on the display displays two thumbnails 301 and 302. Here, the thumbnail 301 is composed of a single file, and the thumbnail 302 shows a state in which three files are virtually combined. When the mouse pointer 310 is moved to the thumbnail 302, a file display window 303 is displayed.

The file display window 303 displays the file names of the three files. Here, three file names are "cow.jpg, report1.doc, report2.txt"
And Therefore, the thumbnail 302 displays an image obtained by reducing one of the three files.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an operation list window displayed on the display in the detailed display processing performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment. Referring to FIG. 9, screen 301 displayed on display 107 includes thumbnail 301 and thumbnail 302.
And a file display window 303 are displayed. When the mouse pointer 310 is moved to any file name in the file display window 303, an operation list window 304 is displayed. In the figure, "repo
The state where the mouse pointer 310 is set to the file name of “rt1.doc” is shown.

In the operation list window 304, "Ope
"n", "Delete" and "Copy" operation items are displayed. “Open” is an item indicating an operation of processing for opening a file by activating an application program corresponding to the file. “Delete” is an item indicating an operation of a process of deleting a file (Delete), and “Copy” is an item indicating an operation of a process of copying a file (Copy). In addition to these operation items, items such as a file printing process operation item and a file name changing operation item may be added. May be displayed in the operation list window.

On the screen shown in FIG. 9, the mouse pointer 310 is moved to any one of the operation items displayed in the operation list window 304 and double-clicked, so that the file specified in the file display window 303 is displayed. Then, the operation specified in the operation list window 304 is executed. For example, file display window 3
When the mouse pointer is moved to “Delete” in the operation list window 304 after the mouse pointer is moved to “report1.doc” in 03, the file name is
The file "rt1.doc" will be deleted.

As described above, in the file management apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a plurality of virtually combined files are displayed as one thumbnail, the pointer of the pointing device is set to the thumbnail. At this point, a file display window for displaying the file name of the virtually combined file is displayed. Therefore, the file that has been virtually combined can be known by the file name without turning the thumbnail 302 to the next page.

Further, the operation list window 304 is displayed by pointing one of the file names displayed in the file display window 303 with the mouse pointer. Then, the operation in which the mouse pointer is set in the operation list window 304 is performed on the file in which the mouse pointer is set in the file display window 303. Therefore, a predetermined operation can be performed on each file without releasing the virtual combination of a plurality of files that have been virtually combined.

As described above, in the file management apparatus according to the present embodiment, a comfortable working environment can be provided by devising the display and operation of the virtually combined files.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a file management device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a file configuration of a file management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a file management process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of a startup process performed by the file management device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a keyword editing process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a format of a management information file created by the file management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a detailed display process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file display window displayed on a display in a detailed display process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation list window displayed on a display in a detailed display process performed by the file management device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 file management device, 101 control unit, 103
Storage unit, 105 input unit, 107 display, 10
7 output unit, 109 external storage device, 111 recording medium,
203 management information file, 213 management information file, 223 management information file, 300 screen, 30
1,302 thumbnail, 303 file display window, 304 operation list window, 310 mouse pointer, 201, 211, 221, 231 folder,
203, 213, 223 management information file, 205,
207, 209, 215, 217, 219, 225, 2
27,229,235,237,239 Data file.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B050 AA10 BA16 CA07 FA02 FA12 5B082 EA07 EA08 EA10 GC01 GC03 GC05 5E501 AA02 AC20 AC33 BA05 BA12 CA02 CB02 CB09 DA11 EA05 EA06 EA12 EA13 EB05 FA04 FA06 FA14 FB04

Claims (5)

[Claims] A first display unit for displaying a plurality of associated files as one thumbnail; an instruction unit for indicating the displayed thumbnail; and a plurality of files associated in response to the instruction File management device comprising: a second display unit for displaying the information of 2. The file management device according to claim 1, wherein the file information is a file name. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting means for selecting at least one of the information on the displayed file; and processing means for performing a predetermined process on a file corresponding to the information on the selected file. A file management device according to claim 1. 4. A step of displaying a plurality of associated files as one thumbnail, a step of receiving an instruction of the displayed thumbnail, and displaying information of the plurality of associated files in response to the instruction. And a file management method. 5. A step of displaying a plurality of associated files as one thumbnail, a step of receiving an instruction for the displayed thumbnail, and displaying information of the plurality of associated files in response to the instruction. And a computer-readable recording medium on which a file management program for causing a computer to execute the steps of: