JP2003050727A - File management program, file managing method and machine-readable recording medium in which file management program is recorded - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exactly manage files, based on associated pieces of information. SOLUTION: A desired file 3i is retrieved from a group of electronic files 3i (S1), as a retrieval result, information to indicate that the desired file is detected is created whenever desired files 3i are detected (S2), or information that the contents are referred is created when the desired file 3i is detected and the contents are referred and the created files are recorded in history information files 4i, corresponding to the desired files 3i (S3 to S5). Consequently, history information or the latest information that the corresponding electronic file 3i is detected through retrieval or it is detected and the contents are referred are included in the contents of the history information files 4i. Thus, when this file management program is constituted, so as to manage the electronic files 3i based on the contents recorded in the history information files 4i, the files are managed more exactly in comparison with the case of managing the electronic files 3i, based only on the information that they are updated as in the conventional manner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention records a file management program, a file management method, and a file management program for managing a file (hereinafter referred to as an electronic file) in which various information such as a program or data is electronically stored. Machine-readable recording media, especially history information related to electronic file operations,
The present invention relates to a file management program that manages according to information associated with the electronic file, a file management method, and a machine-readable recording medium that records the file management program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, when organizing (deleting) unnecessary electronic files from an electronic file group stored in a storage area, for example, The possibility of deletion is determined based on the date information which is one of the information associated with the electronic file.

However, the timing of updating the date information for a certain electronic file is when the electronic file itself is updated (content change). Therefore,
If the content of the electronic file has not been updated but is being referred to, the date information of the electronic file is not updated at all. Therefore, although the electronic file is a necessary file, it may be erroneously determined to be an electronic file to be deleted based on the date information, and the electronic file may be deleted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a file management program, a file management method, and a machine-readable recording medium having the file management program recorded therein, which can accurately manage files based on associated information. .

[0005]

A file management program according to an aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to execute a file management method for managing a file based on information associated with the file. The file management method includes a file search step for searching a desired file from a plurality of files, and a search result obtained by the file search step. When the desired file is detected, information indicating that the file is detected is associated with the desired file. And the step of creating.

Therefore, when a desired file is detected as a result of searching for a desired file from a plurality of files in the file search step, information indicating that the desired file is detected is created in association with the desired file. Therefore, it becomes possible to manage the file based on the information indicating that the file has been detected in the search by the file search step. Therefore, compared to the case where the file is managed only based on the information indicating that the file has been updated, Can manage files accurately.

In the file management method executed by the above-mentioned file management program, the information indicating the detection may include data indicating the date of search or the date when the content of the detected desired file is referred to. .

Therefore, it becomes possible to manage the file based on the date of the search by the file search step or the date when the detected content is referred to, so that the file can be managed more accurately.

The file management method executed by the above-mentioned file management program further comprises a step of, when the detected contents of the desired file are referred to, associating information indicating the reference with the desired file. Good.

Therefore, when the desired file is detected in the file search step and the content thereof is referred to, the information indicating the reference is created in association with the desired file. Therefore, since it becomes possible to manage the file based on the date when the file is searched and the content is referred to, compared with the case where the file is managed only based on the information that the file is updated. You can manage files more accurately.

The file management method executed by the above file management program may further include a recording step of recording the information in association with the desired file each time the information is created.

Therefore, each time the information indicating that the information is detected or the information indicating that the information is referred to is generated, the generated information is recorded in association with the desired file. Therefore, in connection with the file, it is possible to record the information indicating the history of being detected or referred to, and the latest information indicating that the detected or referred to is recorded. The file can be managed more accurately based on the recorded information.

In the file management method executed by the above-mentioned file management program, a step of retrieving and outputting a file satisfying a desired condition of the information recorded in the recording step for each of the plurality of files is further included. You may prepare.

Therefore, of a plurality of files, the history information of the detected or referred to, which is recorded in association with the file, or the latest information indicating the detected or referred to indicates the desired condition. You can search and output the files that satisfy the conditions. Therefore, a better user interface can be provided in the file search.

The file management method executed by the above-mentioned file management program may further include a recording information output step for outputting the information recorded in the recording step for each of the plurality of files in a desired manner.

Therefore, the history information of detected or referred to, or the latest information indicating detected or referred to, recorded by the recording step in relation to the file, is desired by the user. Since the output is performed in such a manner, a better user interface can be provided in the file search using the recorded information.

A file management method according to another aspect of the present invention is a method of managing a file based on information associated with the file, and a file search step for searching a desired file from a plurality of files. And, when a desired file is detected as a result of the search by the file search step, information indicating that the desired file is detected is associated with the desired file and created.

Therefore, when the desired file is detected as a result of searching the desired files from the plurality of files in the file search step, the information indicating the detection is created in association with the desired file. Therefore, it becomes possible to manage the file based on the information indicating that the file has been detected in the search by the file search step. Therefore, compared to the case where the file is managed only based on the information indicating that the file has been updated, Can manage files accurately.

A machine-readable recording medium recording a file management program according to still another aspect of the present invention has the following features. That is, the file management program recorded on the recording medium is for causing a computer to execute a file management method for managing a file based on information associated with the file. A file search step for searching a desired file from the files, and a step of, when the desired file is detected as a result of the search by the file search step, creating information relating to the detected file by associating with the desired file .

Therefore, when the desired file is detected as a result of searching the desired file from the plurality of files in the file search step, the information indicating the detection is created in association with the desired file. Therefore, it becomes possible to manage the file based on the information indicating that the file has been detected in the search by the file search step. Therefore, compared to the case where the file is managed only based on the information indicating that the file has been updated, Can manage files accurately.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In this embodiment, a procedure for managing an electronic file based on history information about its operation is shown.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of a computer that mounts and executes a file management program applied to each embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1A, a computer includes a CPU (abbreviation of central processing unit) 10 for centrally controlling the computer itself, a keyboard 11, a mouse 12, a CRT (cathode ray tube), a liquid crystal display, and the like. Monitor 13, ROM (Read On
memory 14 including a memory (RAM) (abbreviation of random access memory), various communication networks 16 and communication I for connecting the computer.
/ F15, an FD (flexible disk) 171 is detachably mounted, and an FD drive device 17 for accessing the mounted FD 171 and a CD-ROM (Compact D
isc Read Only Memory) 181 is detachably mounted, and the mounted CD-ROM 181 is accessed C
A D-ROM driver 18 is included. These respective units are communicatively connected via a bus. The computer may be provided with a magnetic tape device in which a cassette-type magnetic tape is detachably mounted and which accesses the mounted magnetic tape.

An example of the contents of the memory 14 is shown in FIG. Referring to the drawing, a plurality of electronic files 3i (i = 1, 2,
, N) and a plurality of history information files 4i (i = 1, 2, ..., N) are stored in association with each of the electronic files 3i. The history information file 4i indicates information regarding the history of operations on the corresponding electronic file 3i. Details of the history information file 4i will be described later.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a procedure for updating the history information file 4i according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of the history information file 4i according to the first embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 3, the history information file 4i corresponds to the corresponding electronic file 3i.
File name FN, an update date D1 indicating the date when the content of the electronic file 3i was updated, and when a search process of the electronic file 3i group is performed according to a search instruction from the user, the search result, the corresponding electronic file 3i Hit
A search date D2 indicating the date when the electronic file 3i is listed and output, and a search result, a reference date D3 indicating the date when the content of the electronic file 3i is referenced after being listed are sequentially added and registered. .

A processing procedure for updating the history information file 4i for the electronic file 3i will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in the computer shown in FIG. 1A, the user operates the keyboard 11 or the mouse 12 to retrieve the desired electronic file 3i, and the memory 14
When a search operation is instructed for the electronic file 3i group stored in, the CPU 10 searches the electronic file 3i group in accordance with the instruction content (step S1 (hereinafter, step S is simply abbreviated as S)), and the file name FN is When it is confirmed that the electronic file 3i of "patent status.doc" is hit (S2), the hit date (today's date) is read from a timer (not shown), the search date D2 is created from the read information, and the electronic file 3i is read. Is additionally registered in the history information file 4i (see FIG. 3) corresponding to
3).

Thereafter, the CPU 10 causes the electronic file 3
It is determined whether or not the content of i is referred to by the monitor 13 or the like (S4). If it is determined that it is not referenced (S
(No in 4) A series of processing is ended, but when it is determined that the reference is made (Yes in S4), the referred date (today's date) is read from a timer not shown, and the reference date D3 is obtained from the read information. The created history information file 4i is additionally registered (S5). Then, the user can change the contents of the electronic file 3i to the keyboard 11 or the mouse 12
Is operated to determine whether or not it has been updated (S6).

If it is determined that the update has not been performed (S6
However, if it is determined that the update has been performed (Yes in S6), the updated date (today's date) is read from the timer not shown, and the update date D1 is created from the read information. And corresponding history information file 4i
Is additionally registered in (S7). After that, the series of processing ends.

As described above, when the electronic file 3i is operated by the computer, the date of the operation is added to the corresponding history information file 4i for each item specifying the operation. Will be registered.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing examples of screens for displaying history information about a specific electronic file 3i in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying history information of a specific electronic file in the first embodiment of the present invention.
A procedure for displaying the contents of the history information file 4i of the specific electronic file 3i on the screen will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the contents of a specific electronic file (file name FN = “patent status.doc”) are displayed on the monitor 13 as thumbnails. In such a state, the CPU 10 determines that the user has operated the mouse 12 and clicked the right button of the mouse 12 on the thumbnail (Y in S11).
es), a balloon is displayed with respect to the thumbnail, and a menu of operation items executable for the electronic file 3i is displayed in the balloon (S12). The displayed operation menu also includes an operation item “display file history information”. The CPU 10 determines whether or not the user clicks the mouse 12 to select the item “display file history information” of the displayed operation menu. When it is determined that the electronic file 3i is selected (Yes in S13), the history information file 4i corresponding to the electronic file 3i is read from the memory 14 and the content is displayed as shown in FIG. When it is determined not to select (S13
No, the process moves to another process corresponding to No.

In this way, the contents of the history information file 4i of the specific electronic file 3i can be displayed.

7 and 8 are diagrams showing examples of screens for displaying history information of all electronic files in a predetermined folder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying history information of all electronic files 3i in a predetermined folder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9,
All electronic files 3 in the specified folder of the memory 14
A procedure for displaying the contents of the history information file 4i corresponding to i will be described.

Now, in the monitor 13, as shown in FIG. 7, the electronic file 3 registered in the predetermined folder is displayed.
Assume that the respective contents of i are displayed in the form of thumbnails. In such a state, the CPU 10
When the user determines that the right button of the mouse 12 has been clicked in the workspace not on the thumbnail of the screen of the monitor 13 (Yes in S20), the menu of the list of executable operation items is displayed in a balloon. This menu includes an operation item "display history information". The CPU 10 determines whether or not the user selects the item “display history information” of the displayed operation menu by clicking with the mouse 12 or the like. When it is determined that the selection has been made (Yes in S22), all the electronic files 3i in the predetermined folder displayed in the thumbnail are displayed.
A screen as shown in FIG. 8 is displayed based on the contents of the history information file 4i corresponding to each (S2
3). If it is determined not to select (N in S22,
o) Move to another processing corresponding to the above.

The screen of FIG. 8 shows the file name FN, the update date D11, the search date D22, and the reference date D33 for each of all the electronic files 3i in the predetermined folder displayed in thumbnails. Update date D11
Indicates the latest update date of the update dates D1 registered in the history information file 4i of the corresponding electronic file 3i, and similarly the search date D22 indicates the latest search date D2 of the corresponding search dates D2. , Reference date D33 as well
Indicates the latest reference date D3 among the corresponding reference dates D3.

By checking the screen of FIG. 8, the user can check the latest dates of all the electronic files 3i in the predetermined folder for the update date D1, the search date D2 and the reference date D3 in a list.

The display contents of the screen shown in FIG. 8 can be sorted and displayed so that the user can easily confirm the contents. For example, FIG. 10 shows a state after the contents of FIG. 8 are sorted in ascending order on the reference date D33. The sorting item is not limited to the reference date D33, but may be the search date D22 or the update date D33.
It may be 11. Further, the sorting is not limited to ascending order and may be, for example, descending order.

In the first embodiment, the CPU 10 operates as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, a list of electronic files 3i to be deleted is displayed while referring to predetermined conditions based on the history information shown in FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a deletion target electronic file with reference to a predetermined condition based on history information according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is displayed as a result of the processing according to the flowchart in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen. A procedure for determining the electronic file 3i to be deleted will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the user operates the keyboard 11 or the mouse 12 to input a predetermined condition for determining the electronic file 3i to be deleted together with a request for presenting the electronic file 3i to be deleted (S30). Predetermined conditions are (1. Not updated within the last 6 months),
An electronic file 3i satisfying at least one of the three items (2. Not searched within the last 3 months) and (3. Not referenced within the last 1 month)
Shows the content of extracting.

In response to the input of the presentation request, the CPU 10 searches the history information file 4i in the memory 14 based on the predetermined condition input together with the presentation request (S31), and determines whether or not there is a hit. It is determined (whether or not there is a history information file 4i whose content matches the predetermined condition) (S32). If there is no hit (N in S32
o), create information that no hits have been made (S3
3) The creation information is displayed on the monitor 13 (S35), and the user is informed that there is no electronic file 3i that meets (hits) the input predetermined condition and is to be deleted.

On the other hand, if there is a hit (Yes in S32),
Information indicating that there is a hit is created (S34), the created information is displayed on the monitor 13 (S35), and the electronic file 3i corresponding to (hit) the predetermined condition input to the user and to be deleted exists. The fact that this has been done is notified, for example, on the screen of FIG.

In the screen of FIG. 12, when the time when the flowchart of FIG. 11 is executed is set to March 15, 2001, the file name FN and update date of each electronic file 3i satisfying the above-mentioned predetermined condition. D11,
The search date D22 and the reference date D33 are shown, and the dates corresponding to any of the items 1 to 3 of the above-described predetermined condition are underlined.

Therefore, the user confirms the screen of FIG. 12 to confirm that the electronic file 3i satisfying the predetermined condition is not limited to the update date as in the conventional case, but at least one of the update date, the search date and the reference date. You can search based on.

The predetermined condition is not limited to the above. Further, in step S30 of FIG. 11, the predetermined condition is input by the user, but the condition may be specified by the system. Further, the example of the screen displaying the hit is not limited to that shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the history information is registered in the history information file 4i which is separate from the electronic file 3i, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the history information may be added to the electronic file 3i itself.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described. The system having the processing functions described above is realized by a program. In the second embodiment, this program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium.

In the second embodiment, as the recording medium, the ROM itself of the memory 14 of the computer shown in FIG. 1A may be the program medium. Further, a program medium readable by using a program reading device such as an FD drive device 17 and a CD-ROM drive device 18 as an external storage device, that is, FD 171 or C
It may be the D-ROM 181. In either case, the stored program is accessed and executed via the CPU 10.

The program medium described above is a tape system such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk such as an FD 17 or a hard disk, a CD-ROM 171 and an MO (Magnetic).
Optical discs such as optical discs, ICs
It may be a card system such as a card or a semiconductor memory.

Further, since the computer shown in FIG. 1A has a configuration capable of being connected to the communication network 16, the program may be downloaded from the communication network 16.

The content stored in the recording medium is not limited to the program and may be data.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

[0053]

【The invention's effect】 [Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of a computer that mounts and executes a file management program applied to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an update procedure of the history information file 4i according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a history information file 4i according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying history information about a specific electronic file 3i in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying history information about a specific electronic file 3i in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying history information of a specific electronic file in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying history information of all electronic files in a predetermined folder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying history information of all electronic files in a predetermined folder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for displaying history information of all electronic files 3i in a predetermined folder according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state after the history information of the electronic file of FIG. 8 is sorted by a reference date.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining a deletion target electronic file with reference to a predetermined condition based on history information according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed as a result of the processing according to the flowchart of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 CPU, 11 keyboard, 12 mouse, 13
Monitor, 14 memory, 15 communication I / F, 16 network, 17 FD drive, 18 CD-ROM
Drive device, 3i electronic file, 4i history information file, FN file name, D1, D11 update date, D
2, D22 search date, D3, D33 reference date.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A file management program for causing a computer to execute a file management method for managing a file based on information associated with the file, wherein the file management method selects a desired file from a plurality of files. A file management program, comprising: a file search step for searching; and a search result obtained by the file search step, when the desired file is detected, a step of creating information indicating that the desired file is detected in association with the desired file. . 2. The information indicating that the information is detected includes data indicating the date of the search or the date when the detected content of the desired file is referred to.
The file management program according to claim 1. 3. When the content of the detected desired file is referenced, the method further comprises the step of creating information indicating that the desired file is referenced in association with the desired file.
The file management program according to claim 1. 4. The file management program according to claim 1, further comprising a recording step of recording the information in association with the desired file each time the information is created. 5. The file according to claim 4, further comprising a step of searching a plurality of files for files in which the information recorded in the recording step satisfies a desired condition for each of the plurality of files and outputting the file. Management program. 6. A file management method for managing a file based on information associated with the file, comprising a file search step for searching a desired file from a plurality of files, and a search result by the file search step. When the desired file is detected, a step of creating information indicating that the desired file has been detected in association with the desired file is created. 7. A machine-readable recording medium recording a file management program for causing a computer to execute a file management method for managing a file based on information associated with the file, the file management method comprising: A file search step for searching a desired file from a plurality of files; and a search result obtained by the file search step, when the desired file is detected, information indicating that the file has been detected is created in association with the desired file. And a machine-readable recording medium having a file management program recorded thereon.