JP2003196099A - File associating system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem of requiring to execute troublesome work such as manually associating new application software to a file by searching the new application software to be associated to the file from application software preinstalled in an information processor by a user himself since the application software cannot be automatically started and opened even by doubly clicking the file, for example, when the application software associated to the file is uninstalled (deleted) in a conventional file associating system. <P>SOLUTION: Association history software 35 has the function for recording a history for associating an extension of the file with the application software capable of opening the file having the extension. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file association system that associates a file that can be opened by application software with the application software.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when new application software is installed (introduced) in an information processing device, a file that can be opened by the application software and the application software are associated and recorded. The system is incorporated in an OS (operating system) or the like. Specifically, the OS has a record in which an extension indicating a file type is associated with application software capable of opening a file having the extension. Since such correspondence exists, the following can be performed. For example, when a file management program on the OS is started and a list of files included in the information processing device is displayed on the monitor, when a user double-clicks a desired file from the list, By referring to the recorded contents (correspondence between extension and application software) of the file association system, it becomes possible to automatically start the application software capable of opening the file and open the file.

[0003]

However, in the conventional file association system described above, the association becomes invalid if, for example, the application software associated with the file is uninstalled (deleted) from the information processing apparatus. ， Even if there is another application software that is already installed on the information processing device and that can open the file, double-clicking the file as described above will automatically start and open the application software. Was impossible. Therefore, it is necessary to newly associate application software that has already been installed in the information processing apparatus and is capable of opening the file.
However, in the conventional file association system described above, it is troublesome for the user to search for the new application software from the application software already installed in the information processing apparatus and manually associate it with the extension of the file. I had to do some work. Furthermore, when the above-mentioned association is intentionally changed in this way, not only the application software that can associate the extension of the file, but also the association cannot be performed (cannot be opened even by double-clicking. Since the user has to select from the ones including the application software, the user needs knowledge of what extension each application software corresponds to. As another example, when installing application software, in a conventional file association system, it is possible to select whether to forcibly associate the above file with the application software to be installed or to associate the application software to be installed. If there is a plurality of application software that can be associated with the extension because the user requests the extension, the user can associate all the extensions stored in the information processing device. It was impossible to freely select from among the application software of. As yet another example, when the application software is started in a state where the file extension is associated with the application software not intended by the user by installing or uninstalling the application software, the user can double-click the file to double-click the file. The file may be opened by unintended application software of. Therefore, in order to open the file with the application software intended by the user, it is necessary to perform a work such as specifying the file after opening the application software intended by the user, so double-click the file directly. There was a case that it was not possible to use the convenient function such as opened by. Therefore, conventionally, in order to open a file by using the application software intended by the user by double-clicking, it is necessary to manually associate the file extension with the application software as described above. Needed knowledge. Further, a user who cannot perform the above-mentioned troublesome work has to perform a work such as calling a file from application software every time. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to, when the application software associated with the file as described above is uninstalled, when the application software is installed, Alternatively, when the application software is started, it is possible to present the user with application software that has already been installed in the information processing device and is capable of opening the above file, and to flexibly select it, or to perform automatic association. In addition, even when the user intentionally changes the association, the application software is selected from the application software already installed in the information processing device and capable of opening the file, and the association is performed. It is to provide a file association system enables.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a file that can be opened by the application software when the application software is installed in an information processing device, and the application software. In a file association system that records by associating with each other,
It is configured as a file associating system including an associating history unit for recording a history of being recorded in association with the application software to be installed. Since the present invention is configured in this way, when changing the above-mentioned association, it is possible to easily change the application software based on the above-mentioned association history means, and the operability is improved. Further, it is desirable that when the application software is installed, the application software to be associated with the file is selected based on the recorded contents of the association history means,
On the other hand, when the application software is uninstalled from the information processing device or the like, the application software to be associated with the file may be selected based on the recorded contents of the association history means. With the configuration of the present invention as described above, even at the time of installation or uninstallation in which the application software included in the information processing apparatus is replaced, based on the association history means,
It is possible to easily change the application software that associates the files, improving the operability.
Further, even when the user intentionally changes the association, the change can be easily performed.

In the present invention, the number of times the application software that has started the file is started is recorded in the association history means, and when the associated application software is uninstalled from the information processing device or the like, The application software having the largest number of startups is associated with the file, or recorded in the association history means including the date and time when the application software is associated with the file, and the associated application software is the information processing apparatus. Of the application software recorded in the association history means other than the application software to be uninstalled.
The application software having the latest date and time is associated with the file, or recorded in the association history means including the date and time when the application software was installed in the file, and the associated application software is the information processing device or the like. When the application software is further uninstalled, the application software having the latest date and time among the application software recorded in the association history means other than the application software to be uninstalled may be associated with the file. By associating the application software with any of the above methods, the application software capable of opening the file is automatically associated with the file even if the application software is uninstalled from the information processing device. Is possible.

[0006]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an understanding of the present invention. It should be noted that the following embodiments and examples are merely examples embodying the present invention and are not of the nature to limit the technical scope of the present invention. Here, FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus A that employs a file association system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a schematic configuration of operating software, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the associated storage area 32, FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a history file of the association history software 35 which is an example of an association history means, FIG.
Is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a history file of association history software 35 which is an example of association history means, and FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a history file of association history software 35 which is an example of association history means,
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes performed by the control unit 50 when the application software is installed in the information processing apparatus A, and FIG. 7 is a case where the application software is uninstalled from the information processing apparatus A. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes performed by the control unit 50, FIG. 8 is a display example diagram when the user selects the application software to be associated, and FIG. 9 is a display example diagram when the user is selecting the application software to be associated. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of changing the associated application software, FIG. 11 is a display example diagram when the user selects the associated application software, FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a modified example of the information processing apparatus A, 13 is information processing It is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the location A.

First, a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus A that employs the file association system according to the embodiment of the present invention and a schematic configuration of software operating on the information processing apparatus A will be described with reference to FIG. Of course, the file associating system of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned information processing apparatus A and is adopted, and any file can be obtained as long as the same effect can be obtained by using the file associating system of the present invention. You may adopt it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information processing apparatus A includes a monitor 110, which is a peripheral device connected to the information processing apparatus A,
Mouse 120, keyboard 130, floppy (registered trademark) disk drive 140 (hereinafter, "FDD140")
CD-ROM drive 150 (hereinafter referred to as "C
D-ROM 150 ") and the like for communication and a hard disk drive 30 (hereinafter referred to as" HDD 30 ") for storing various data and various software in the information processing apparatus A. , A memory 20 in which various data and various software operating in the information processing apparatus A are expanded, and a CPU 10 which controls each of the above parts according to the software expanded in the memory 20 from the HDD 30 or the like. . Further, with such a configuration, the CPU 10 and the HDD 3
0 and the memory 20 control the processing performed by the information processing apparatus A, so the above three are collectively referred to as a control unit 50.

A file 34, which is data of various documents and images created by the user, is stored in the HDD 30.
And application software 33 operable on the information processing apparatus A, and an operating system 31 (hereinafter, referred to as an operation system) that comprehensively controls the information processing apparatus A itself and peripheral devices.
"OS31"), and an association history software 35 which is an example of an association history means for recording a history of association between the file 34 and the application software 33. By the way,
This OS 31 has a file 34 in a format as shown in FIG.
An association storage area 32 for storing the application software 33 and the application software 33 in association with each other is provided. That is, the association storage area 32 is an association of a file extension and application software capable of opening a file having the extension in a one-to-one correspondence with each other. In other words, this association
For example, when a file is double-clicked, it is possible to open the file having the extension by activating the application software associated with the file. The association history software 35 has a function of recording a history in which an extension of a file and application software capable of opening a file having the extension are associated with each other. As shown in 3. For example, FIG. 3 shows that the application software capable of opening a file having the extension “TXT” is “word processor A”, “word processor B”, and “word processor C”, and currently the extension “ Application software associated with "TXT" (ie, extension "TX
This indicates that the application software that is activated by double-clicking the file “T” is “word processor C” and “word processor B” has already been uninstalled (deleted) from the information processing apparatus A. In other words, the association history software 35 is, in other words, for one extension, it is possible to record a plurality of application software capable of opening a file having the extension.
It has a function of recording the application software associated with the extension, the uninstall status of the application software, the number of times the application software having opened the file having the extension is activated, and the like. Further, the history of association as shown in FIG. 3 is stored in the history storage area 36. The history storage area 36 may be included in the association history software 35 as a history file, for example. Since the history file of the association history software 35 has the above-described configuration, a configuration different from the storage content of the association storage area 32 in which the file extension and the application software are simply made to correspond one-to-one. It has.

The memory 20 is used by the information processing apparatus A.
Operating application software 23 running on
An installation program 21 (hereinafter referred to as "INS21") for newly installing (installing) application software in the information processing apparatus A, or conversely, an uninstalling program for uninstalling (deleting) the application software from the information processing apparatus A. It is for expanding the installation program 22 (hereinafter referred to as "UNINS22") and the like.

An example of a series of processes performed by the control unit 50 by the association history software 35 when the application software is newly installed in the information processing apparatus A thus configured will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 50 (INS21 which is the installer of the application software) activates the association history software 35 (S10). For example, the general installation is INS21 from CD-ROM150.
Is loaded into the memory 20, and the INS 21 is a CD-ROM
The files constituting the application software compressed in 150 are decompressed and copied to the HDD 30. In addition, information related to application software is registered in the OS 31. Then, the INS 21 may activate the association history software 35 after the application software is installed. Subsequently, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) adds the installed operation application software 23 to the history file (see FIG. 3) (S20). That is, when the history file is originally in the state as shown in FIG. 3 (three application software), the operation application software 2
3 will be added. That is, for example, if the operation application software 23 is “word processor D”, the history file is changed to “word processor D” from the state of FIG.
Is added to the state shown in FIG. As described above, after the application software 23 (that is, word processor D) installed in the history file is added, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) selects the application software associated with the extension “TXT” for the user. (S30). This selection may be performed as follows, for example. As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 50 displays on the monitor 110 a display prompting the user to make the above selection. The display example of FIG. 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
In the history file shown in, radio buttons are attached to three of "word processor A", "word processor C", and "word processor D" other than the uninstalled "word processor B", and one of the radio buttons is selected by the user. When selected, the application software associated with the extension “TXT” is set to GUI (Graphical User).
An example that can be selected in the (Interface) is shown.
Note that FIG. 8 shows a state in which "word processor C" is selected as the application software associated with the extension "TXT". Then, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) writes in the history file that the application software (word processing C) selected by the user in step S30 is associated with the extension “TXT” and updates it. Further, the association storage area 32 is also changed (S40). That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the "association" column of "word processor C" is marked with a circle, and the application software associated with the extension "TXT" has the same "word processor C" as in the state of FIG. ] Has been selected again.
It should be noted that, for convenience of illustration in the above, only the "○" mark is used, and the flag (Associ
ation = Y). The same applies to the following description (FIGS. 2 to 5).

On the other hand, an example of a series of processes performed by the control unit 50 when the application software is uninstalled will be described with reference to FIG. Control unit 50
(Application software uninstaller 2
In 2), the association history software 35 is started after the uninstallation (S110). Then, the control unit 50
The (association history software 35) additionally records the information in which the uninstalled application software is deleted in the history file (S120). Here, a specific example of additional recording of the history file when the uninstalled application software is “word processor C” will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) puts a circle mark (Uninst = Y, etc.) in the “Uninstall” column of the “word processor C” of the history file, so that the “word processor C” is displayed. Add to the history file that was uninstalled. Subsequently, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) performs the same operation as at the time of installation (step S above).
As shown in FIG. 9, the display prompting the user to select is displayed on the monitor 110, thereby causing the user to select the application software associated with the extension “TXT” (S130). In the display example of FIG. 9, for example, in the history file shown in FIG.
Radio buttons are attached to "Word Processor A" and "Word Processor D" other than "Word Processor B" that has already been uninstalled and "Word Processor C" that was uninstalled this time, and one of the radio buttons is selected by the user. By doing so, an example in which the application software associated with the extension “TXT” can be selected by the GUI as in the above-mentioned installation (similar to step S30) is shown. Here, "Word Processor A" has the extension "TXT".
Is selected as the application software associated with. Then, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) writes in the history file that the application software (word processor A) selected by the user in step S130 is associated with the extension "TXT" and updates the history file. Further, the associated storage area 32 is also changed (S140). That is, in this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the "association" column of "word processor A" is marked with a circle (Association = Y, etc.), and the application software associated with the extension "TXT" is "word processor C". "(From the state of FIG. 4) to" Word Processor A ". By the control unit 50 performing a series of processing in this way, when the application software is installed in the information processing apparatus A or is uninstalled from the information processing apparatus A, the user can select whether the application software is desired.
It becomes possible to easily select the application software associated with the file extension.

[0013]

(Embodiment 1) In the above embodiment, the case where the user selects the application software associated with the file extension at the time of installation or uninstallation (steps S30 and S130) has been described. In the first embodiment, a modification in which the application software automatically associated with the extension is automatically selected without the user performing the selection will be described. (When based on the number of times the application software is started) As described above, in the history file, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, for example, the number of times each of the application software that has opened the file having the extension “TXT” is started. Is also recorded. Therefore, the above step S30 (selection at the time of installation) or the above step S1
Instead of the association by the selection by the user in 30 (selection at the time of uninstallation), for example, based on the above-mentioned number of times of starting, the application software with the largest number of times of starting among the installed application software is the file with the extension “TXT”. May be automatically associated with. Specifically, in the case of FIG.
The extension "TXT" may be automatically associated with the word processor A having the largest number of activations of 60 and the largest number. (When the application software is based on the date and time associated with the installation or extension) Further, in the history file (FIGS. 3 to 5), the date and time when the application software was installed in the information processing apparatus A and the application software with the extension “TXT”. By providing the information such as the date and time associated with "," the above step S30 (selection at the time of installation) or the above step S1
Instead of the association by the user's selection in 30 (selection at the time of uninstallation), based on both the above date and time,
For example, the application software having the latest date and time among the installed application software may be associated with the extension “TXT”. By doing so, it becomes possible to perform the above-mentioned association automatically regardless of the user's selection.

(Embodiment 2) Next, an example will be described in which the above-mentioned association is changed when the application software is started regardless of whether the application software is installed or uninstalled. For example, in the state where the history file is shown in FIG. 4 ("Word Processor C" is associated), when the file having the extension "TXT" is double-clicked, the currently associated "Word Processor C" is displayed. Will open the above file. In such a situation, for example, as an example, the extension “TXT” is added according to the usage environment of the user.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a procedure for changing the application software associated with "from word processor C" to "word processor D".
It will be described using 0. Information processing device A by the user
The "word processor D" which is already installed in the computer and is not associated with the current extension "TXT" is expanded on the memory 20 and activated (S210). Then, the word processor D is operated by the user, so that the extension “T
The desired file with "XT" is opened on "Word Processor D" (S220). At this time, the control unit 50 (application software "Word Processor D") activates the association history software 35 (S230). At this time, the control unit 50 (association history software 35)
The information that the desired file having the extension “TXT” has been opened by the “word processor D” loaded in the memory 20 is acquired from the “word processor D”, and “” is added to the extension “TXT” on the history file. The number of activations of the word processor D is incremented by 1 (S240). Further subsequently, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) determines whether "word processor D" is associated with the extension "TXT" (S250). In the determination of step S250, it is determined that "word processing D" is not associated with the extension "TXT". Further, subsequently, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) determines whether or not the extension "TXT" is most activated by the "word processor D" (S260). In the example of this Figure 4, "Word Processor D"
When the number of activations of is greater than 60 times of “word processor A”, the determination is the largest (YES). Here, it is determined which application software has been activated most, but it may be determined whether or not the number of activations of the “word processor D” is larger than that of the currently associated “word processor C”. When it is determined in step S260 that the number of times the file having the extension “TXT” is started in the “word processor D” is the largest, the control unit 5
0 (association history software 35) changes the association from "Word Processor C" to "Word Processor D" (S27).
0). Then, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) marks the "association" column of "word processor D" on the history file with a circle, and updates the history file and the association storage area (S280). By such a procedure, for example, by changing the association from the application software (word processing C) originally associated with the extension “TXT” to the application software (word processing D), the application software can be adapted to the usage status of the application software of the user. It is possible to change the association automatically. In the second embodiment, it is determined whether the extension of the opened file is associated with the activated application software (S250) and the number of times of activation (S260), but the extension of the opened file is activated. It may be possible to perform only the determination as to whether or not the application software is associated (S250). Although the association is automatically changed in the second embodiment (S270), the application software that can be associated with the user and the number of times the application software is started can be automatically changed as shown in FIG. By displaying the application software, the application software to be associated with the user may be selected.

(Third Embodiment) Next, an example in which the user intentionally changes the association will be described. In this case, the user first activates the "association history software 35". As an example of activation, the execution file of the association history software 35 is designated and activated. As another example, a file with the extension "TXT" is used by the mouse 1
In the menu that is displayed when you right-click using 20, prepare a menu called "Change extension by association history" and "Change extension by association history".
"Association history software 35" when is selected
To start. When the user starts the association history software 35 in this way, the control unit 50 (association history software 35) loads the information of the history file, and expands all the extensions recorded in the history file and each extension. The history information of the application software corresponding to the child is visually displayed as a list on the monitor 110 or the like. The user selects a desired application software to be associated with the extension from the visually displayed application software list. The control unit 50 (association history software 35) changes the association and updates the history file and the association storage area 32 according to the selection by the user. With this procedure,
Even when the user intentionally changes the association, the file extension can be selected from the list display of only the applications that can open the file, and the operability for the user is improved.

(Embodiment 4) Next, a modification of the schematic configuration of the information processing apparatus A will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. In the above-described embodiment and examples, regarding the association history software 35, INS21, UNINS2
2 and the case of the format independent of the application software 33 have been described, but as shown in FIG. 12, the format may be included in each of the INS 21, UNINS 22, and the application software 33. That is, each of the INS 21, UNINS 22, and the application software 33 has the function of the association history software 35. Therefore,
The INS 21, UNINS 22, and the application software 33 can perform the above-described processing such as updating the history file and the associated storage area, respectively. As another example, as shown in FIG.
The configuration 31 may include the association history software 35, the history storage area 36, and the association storage area 32. With such a configuration, the history file and the associated storage area can be collectively managed by the OS 31, and the INS 21, UNINS 22, and the application software 33 can associate the files according to the specifications of the OS 31 and the file of the present invention. The versatility of the association system is increased.

[0017]

As described above, the present invention provides a file association system for recording a file that can be opened by the application software and the application software in association with each other when the application software is installed in an information processing device or the like. The file associating system comprises an associating history unit for recording a history of associating and recording a file with the application software to be installed. Since the present invention is configured in this way, when changing the above-mentioned association, it is possible to easily change the application software based on the above-mentioned association history means, and the operability is improved. Further, it is desirable that, when the application software is installed, the application software to be associated with the file is selected based on the recorded contents of the association history means, while the application software is the information processing device. Etc. when it is uninstalled,
The application software to be associated with the file may be selected based on the recorded contents of the association history means. With the configuration of the present invention as described above, the application software to be associated with the file can be easily changed based on the association history means even when the application software included in the information processing apparatus is replaced or installed. This makes it possible to improve operability. Further, even when the user intentionally changes the association, the change can be easily performed.

In the present invention, the number of times the application software that started the file is recorded in the association history means is recorded, and when the associated application software is uninstalled from the information processing device or the like, The application software having the largest number of startups is associated with the file, or recorded in the association history means including the date and time when the application software is associated with the file, and the associated application software is the information processing apparatus. Of the application software recorded in the association history means other than the application software to be uninstalled.
The application software having the latest date and time is associated with the file, or recorded in the association history means including the date and time when the application software was installed in the file, and the associated application software is the information processing device or the like. When the application software is further uninstalled, the application software having the latest date and time among the application software recorded in the association history means other than the application software to be uninstalled may be associated with the file. By associating the application software with any of the above methods, the application software capable of opening the file is automatically associated with the file even if the application software is uninstalled from the information processing device. Is possible. Also,
It is also possible for the user to deliberately change the association by the user's own judgment by referring to the number of times of activation and the date and time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an information processing apparatus A that employs a file association system according to an embodiment of the present invention and a schematic configuration of operating software.

FIG. 2 is a related storage area 3 conventionally provided in an OS or the like.
2 is a schematic configuration diagram of 2. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a history file of association history software 35 which is an example of association history means.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a history file of association history software 35 which is an example of association history means.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a history file of association history software 35 which is an example of association history means.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processes performed by the control unit 50 when application software is installed in the information processing apparatus A.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a series of processing performed by the control unit 50 when application software is uninstalled from the information processing apparatus A.

FIG. 8 is a display example diagram when a user selects application software to be associated.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example when a user selects application software to be associated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of changing associated application software.

FIG. 11 is a display example diagram when a user selects application software to be associated.

FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a modified example of the information processing apparatus A.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a modified example of the information processing apparatus A.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Information processing equipment 10 ... CPU 20 ......... Memory 30 ......... HDD 31 ... OS 32 ......... Associated storage area 33 ……… Application software 34 ... File 35 ......... Association history software 36 ... History storage area 40 ......... Communication section 50 ... Control unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A file that can be opened by the application software when the application software is installed in an information processing device or the like,
A file associating system for associating and recording the application software, comprising: an associating history unit for recording a history of associating and recording the file and the installed application software. 2. The file association system according to claim 1, wherein the application software to be associated with the file is selected on the basis of the recorded contents of the association history means when the application software is installed. 3. The application software to be associated with the file is selected based on the recorded contents of the association history means when the application software is uninstalled from the information processing device or the like. Item 3. The file association system according to item 2. 4. The association history means records the number of times the application software that has activated the file is activated, and the activation is performed when the associated application software is uninstalled from the information processing device or the like. The file association system according to claim 1, wherein the application software having the largest number of times is associated with the file. 5. The date and time when the application software is associated with the file is recorded in the association history means, and when the associated application software is uninstalled from the information processing device or the like, the Of the application software recorded in the association history means other than the installed application software,
The file association system according to claim 1, wherein the application software having the latest date and time is associated with the file. 6. The association history means records the date and time when the application software was installed in the file, and when the associated application software is uninstalled from the information processing apparatus or the like, the The application software other than the installed application software and recorded in the association history means, the application software having the latest date and time is associated with the file.
File association system according to any one of.