JP5128386B2 - Information processing apparatus, electronic form management system, server apparatus, form retrieval method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is an information processing apparatus capable of retrieving a plurality of form data, electronic document management system, server equipment, a program to book form search policy Honami beauty.

  In a conventional electronic form management system, a form that is a paper medium is stored and managed as an electronic form (form data), so that only necessary forms can be searched from a large amount of forms easily and quickly. For example, when searching for form data, an electronic form system that searches for desired form data after designating an area (search target area) to be searched with electronic form information and inputting a condition that matches the search target area. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

In the electronic form management system, various types of forms resulting from business diversification and corporate mergers are sequentially digitized, so that information necessary for a specific purpose is stored redundantly among multiple form data. It will happen. For this reason, the number of operations for checking a plurality of form data by matching them is increasing. For example, in banking business, in order to retrieve a specific customer's address and deposit balance from the electronic form system at the same time, it is necessary to retrieve two form data: customer ledger and ordinary deposit balance information.
JP 2007-179201 A

  However, when searching for a plurality of form data using a conventional electronic form management system, the form data to be searched becomes larger than the normal search. There is a problem of stagnation.

  In a conventional electronic form management system, text data that is the basis of an electronic form is transmitted from a server device to a client terminal, and an electronic form is generated based on the text data received by the client terminal. This electronic form is composed of a text file of text data, a position file indicating where to place the text data, and a plurality of files such as a form file for determining the position of a form (ruled line or figure) in the form. Has been.

  When searching for form data using the technique described in Patent Literature 1, the position file is referred to from the search target area selected on the display screen, and the text file is searched from the text data in the search target area. Processing such as obtaining and retrieving from the obtained text file must be performed. Therefore, unlike an application having a search function (for example, “MSOffice” manufactured by Microsoft Corporation), there is a problem that the search takes time.

  Further, when searching for a plurality of form data, it is necessary to set a search target area on the form each time the user performs a form search, and to execute the search. Therefore, a search target area that is often searched by an administrator may be set in advance, and a search user may search using this search target area. When an attempt is made to start a search, the search target area set by the administrator cannot be used, and the search user must set the search target area on the form.

  In addition, if there are a large number of types of forms and the time / department etc. when the form was created are different, the items of the form are often different.For example, even if the customer name is on the form overlay, Various names such as “name”, “customer name”, and “customer name” are headings. In this case, since the time when the administrator sets the search target area is also different, the search target area is originally managed by one group, and when searching, the same search must be performed for this group. Regardless, there is a problem that the administrator sets the search target area as a different area from the previously set search target area due to the difference in the timing of setting the search target area and the heading name. For example, the names may be different, such as “Kouzabango”, “Bangou”, “No”, in spite of items in which the same type of content is described. As a result, the set area is managed as a separate area, and when searching for multiple forms, search conditions must be set for each form or for each set search target area. Complicated work will occur.

  Moreover, the user who searches needs to grasp which search target area is set in which form, and the load at the time of searching is high.

The present invention, when searching a plurality of form data, reducing the load of the user, the information processing apparatus to facilitate the search, electronic document management system, server equipment, a program to book form search policy Honami beauty The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus of the present invention is communicably connected to a server device that stores form data and area information of an area set for retrieving the form data in association with each other. An information processing apparatus, a form data specifying unit for receiving specification of form data to be searched, an area information acquiring unit for acquiring area information corresponding to the form data specified by the form data specifying unit, and the area Classification means for classifying areas set in the form data designated by the form data designation means into grouped areas and ungrouped areas according to the area information obtained by the information obtaining means; Character strings for allowing the user to select a grouped area classified by means and an ungrouped area are displayed in an identifiable manner. Display means, character string designating means for accepting designation of a character string displayed by the display means for searching the form data designated by the form data designation means, and characters designated by the character string designation means A search condition input means for receiving an input of search conditions for performing a search process on an area corresponding to the column, and a character string designated by the character string designation means from the form data designated by the form data designation means Search instruction means for performing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string specifying means, a plurality of character string selection means for receiving selection of a plurality of character strings, and the selection And a grouping unit for instructing grouping of areas corresponding to the plurality of character strings.
In order to achieve the above object, an electronic form management system according to the present invention includes an information processing apparatus, a server apparatus that stores form data and area information of an area set for retrieving the form data in association with each other. Is an electronic form management system capable of communicating, wherein the information processing device includes form data designation means for accepting designation of form data to be searched, and area information corresponding to the form data designated by the form data designation means The area information acquisition means for acquiring the area and the area set in the form data specified by the form data specifying means according to the area information acquired by the area information acquisition means are not grouped with the grouped area The user selects a classification means for classifying the area into areas, and a grouped area and an ungrouped area classified by the classification means. Display means for identifiably displaying character strings for receiving, and character string designating means for accepting designation of a character string displayed by the display means for retrieving the form data designated by the form data designation means A search condition input means for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process on an area corresponding to the character string designated by the character string designation means, and form data designated by the form data designation means Search instruction means for performing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying means, wherein the character string specifying means includes a plurality of character strings. A plurality of character string selecting means for accepting selection; and a grouping means for instructing grouping of areas corresponding to the plurality of selected character strings. The server device is form data designated by the form data designation means in the information processing apparatus and area information corresponding to the designated form data, and is set in the form data in the information processing apparatus. A transmission means for transmitting area information including information that can be classified into a grouped area and an ungrouped area to the information processing apparatus, and a search process according to a search instruction in the information processing apparatus. In accordance with the grouping instruction made by the search processing means to be executed and the grouping means in the information processing apparatus, information that can classify the areas corresponding to the selected character strings as the same group is the area. And a group registration means for registering information.
In order to achieve the above object, the server device of the present invention acquires form data specifying means for receiving specification of form data to be searched, and area information corresponding to the form data specified by the form data specifying means. In accordance with the area information acquired by the area information acquisition means and the area information acquisition means, the areas set in the form data designated by the form data designation means are grouped areas and ungrouped areas. Classification means for classifying; display means for allowing a user to select a grouped area and an ungrouped area classified by the classification means; and a form data designation In order to search for form data designated by the means, a character string designation means for accepting designation of the character string displayed by the display means; A search condition input means for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process on an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying means, and the character data from the form data specified by the form data specifying means. Search instruction means for issuing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string designated by the column designation means, and the character string designation means accepts selection of a plurality of character strings. Search a plurality string selecting means, said selected plurality of character strings can communicate with a further in Bei obtain information processing apparatus and a grouping means for an instruction to a group of the corresponding region of the form data and the form data has been The server device stores the region information of the region set for the correspondence in correspondence with the book specified by the form data specifying means in the information processing device Data and area information corresponding to the specified form data, and information that can be classified into a grouped area and an ungrouped area set in the form data in the information processing apparatus Transmitting information to the information processing apparatus, search processing means for executing search processing in accordance with a search instruction in the information processing apparatus, and grouping performed by the grouping means in the information processing apparatus And a group registration unit for registering in the area information information that can classify the areas corresponding to the selected character strings as the same group.
To achieve the above object, the book form search method of the present invention, communicatively connected to a server device that stores in correspondence with the area information of the area set to retrieve form data and within the form data A method for retrieving a form of an information processing apparatus, wherein a form data designation step for accepting designation of form data to be retrieved, and area information corresponding to the form data designated in the form data designation step from the server apparatus The area set in the form data specified in the form data specifying process according to the area information acquiring process to be acquired and the area information acquired in the area information acquiring process is an area that is not grouped with the grouped area And a user for selecting a grouped area and a non-grouped area classified in the classification process. A display step for displaying each character string in an identifiable manner, a character string designation step for accepting designation of a character string displayed in the display step in order to search the form data designated in the form data designation step, From the search condition input step for receiving the input of the search condition for performing the search process for the area corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step, and from the form data specified in the form data specifying step, the characters A search instruction step for performing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string designated in the column designation step, wherein the character string designation step accepts selection of a plurality of character strings. The method further includes a plurality of character string selection steps and a grouping step for instructing grouping of regions corresponding to the plurality of selected character strings.
To achieve the above object, the book form search method of the present invention, an information processing apparatus, a server apparatus for storing in correspondence the area information of the area set to retrieve form data and the form data Is a form search method of an electronic form management system capable of communicating, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a form data specifying step for receiving specification of form data to be searched, and a form data specified in the form data specifying step. Area information acquisition process for acquiring corresponding area information, and areas set in the form data specified in the form data specifying process according to the area information acquired in the area information acquisition process are grouped areas and groups A classification process for classifying the areas into ungrouped areas, and the grouped areas and ungrouped areas classified in the classification process to the user A character string designation for accepting designation of the character string displayed in the display step in order to search the form data designated in the form data designation step A search condition input step for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process for an area corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step, and the form data specified in the form data specifying step from running a search instruction step of performing a search instruction for search for form data to be arranged in a region corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying step, the character string specifying step, a plurality of character a plurality string selection step of accepting a selection of a column, further perform a grouping process of an instruction to group the regions corresponding to the plurality of character strings said selected Are those, wherein the server apparatus includes a form data specified by the form data specified process in the information processing apparatus, an area information corresponding to the designated form data, the form data in the information processing apparatus According to a search step in the information processing apparatus, a transmission step of transmitting to the information processing apparatus area information including information that can be classified into a grouped area and an ungrouped area. Information capable of classifying respective areas corresponding to the selected plurality of character strings as the same group in accordance with a search processing step for executing search processing and a grouping instruction made by the grouping step in the information processing apparatus the and executes a group registration step of registering the area information.
To achieve the above object, the book form search method of the present invention, the form data designation step of receiving designation of form data to be searched, area information corresponding to the form data specified by the form data designation step The area set in the form data specified in the form data specifying process according to the area information acquiring process to be acquired and the area information acquired in the area information acquiring process is an area that is not grouped with the grouped area A display step for distinguishably displaying a character string for allowing a user to select a grouped region and an ungrouped region classified in the classification step, and the form In order to search the form data designated in the data designation step, a character string designation step for accepting designation of the character string displayed in the display step, A search condition input step for accepting input of a search condition for performing a search process for an area corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step, and from the form data specified in the form data specifying step, perform a search instruction step of performing a search instruction for search for form data to be arranged in an area corresponding to the specified character string in a character string specifying step, the character string specifying step, selection of a plurality of strings The form data and the form data communicable with the information processing apparatus further executing a grouping step for receiving a plurality of character string selection step and a grouping step for instructing grouping of areas corresponding to the selected character strings. A form retrieval method for a server apparatus for storing area information of an area set for retrieval in association with the form data specifying process in the information processing apparatus. The form data designated by, and the area information corresponding to the designated form data, the areas set in the form data in the information processing apparatus are grouped areas and ungrouped areas, Transmitting the region information including information that can be classified into the information processing device, a search processing step for executing a search process in accordance with a search instruction in the information processing device, and the grouping step in the information processing device And a group registration step of registering, in the region information, information that can classify the regions corresponding to the selected character strings as the same group in accordance with the grouping instruction made by.

  According to the present invention, when searching for a plurality of form data, it is possible to reduce the load on the user and facilitate the search.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic form management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a form server 100 stores, as an electronic form management device, data of multiple types of electronic forms (hereinafter simply referred to as “forms”) (hereinafter referred to as “form data” or “form file”). It manages and provides services such as browsing and searching for form files to the client PCs 101 and 102 via the network 103.

  The client PCs 101 and 102 are information processing apparatuses such as personal computers used by users. The client PCs 101 and 102 are configured to be able to communicate with the form server 100 via the network 103, and can make a form file search request to the form server 100, view search results, and the like.

  The network 103 is configured by, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), the Internet, or the like. Note that various devices connected to the network 103 are not limited to the illustrated example, and various devices may be connected depending on applications and purposes.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the form server 100 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201 controls various devices connected to the system bus 204 and implements various functions by executing various programs. A RAM 202 is a main memory of the CPU 201 and functions as a work area, a temporary save area, and the like. The ROM 203 or the external memory 211 stores an operating system (OS) that is a control program of the CPU 201 and a program 212 for realizing various functions in the form server 100. The CPU 201 loads these programs into the RAM 202 and executes them as necessary. A form file 213 and an index file 214 used when the program 212 is executed are stored in the external memory 211. A detailed description thereof will be described later. The DB (database) 215 stores an index area management information master 2400 shown in FIG. 24 and a group index information master 2300 shown in FIG. These will be described later.

  The input controller 205 controls an operation input from the input unit 209 configured with, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. The display controller 206 controls display on the display unit 210. The display unit 210 is configured by, for example, a CRT or a liquid crystal display.

  An external memory controller (MC) 207 controls access to the external memory 211 that stores a boot program, various applications, user files, and edit files. In addition, various tables and parameters for realizing various functions of the server or each client PC are stored. The external memory 211 includes a hard disk (HD), a flexible disk (FD), a magnetic tape drive, and the like.

  The communication I / F controller 208 controls communication with an external device such as a client PC performed via the network 103.

  Since the client PCs 101 and 102 have substantially the same hardware configuration as the form server 100, the description thereof is omitted. Note that the index file 214 and DB 215 are not held. As for the form file 213, the client PC receives only the part necessary for display from the form server 100, so that the client PCs 101 and 102 do not hold them in advance. The client PCs 101 and 102 hold a client module for displaying the form file 213 and hold a program different from the program 212 in the form server 100. Further, the client PCs 101 and 102 can display the form file 213 or specify a search condition for an arbitrary form file 213.

  Next, functions of the form server 100 and the client PCs 101 and 102 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functional parts of the form server 100.

  In FIG. 3, the form server 100 includes a form data storage control unit 3401, an area information storage control unit 3402, a search unit 3403, and a communication control unit 3404.

  A form data storage control unit 3401 controls reading and writing of the form file 213. Further, the form data storage control unit 3401 reads out the form file 213 in response to a request from the client PCs 101 and 102 and transmits it to the client PCs 101 and 102 via the communication control unit 3404. The communication control unit 3404 controls communication with the client PCs 101 and 102 on the network 103 and performs control for transmission / reception of various data in addition to transmission of the form file 213.

  The area information storage control unit 3402 controls reading and writing of the index area management information shown in FIG. 7 and the index file 214 shown in FIG. The area information storage control unit 3402 creates the index area management information and the index file 214 when an instruction to create the index file 214 is issued from the client PCs 101 and 102. Then, the created index area management information is stored in the external memory 211 (or DB 215), and the created index file 214 is stored in the external memory 211.

  When there is an instruction to search for a form using the index file 214 from the client PCs 101 and 102, the search unit 3403 executes a search according to the instruction. Specifically, the search unit 3403 acquires search conditions from the client PCs 101 and 102, and acquires the search conditions acquired from the index file 214 read by the area information storage control unit 3402 according to the target area setting field 1301 of the acquired search conditions. Search for a character string that matches the condition (type, condition, comparison). The search conditions are set in the target area setting column (index name, group index name, virtual index name) 1301, type setting column 1302, condition setting column 1303, and comparison setting column 1304 shown in FIG. The search result is transmitted by the communication control unit 3404 to the client PC that issued the search instruction.

  A form control program is stored in the external memory 211 in the form server 100. By executing the form control program, the functions of the form data storage control unit 3401, the area information storage control unit 3402, the search unit 3403, and the communication control unit 3404 are realized.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of functional parts of the client PCs 101 and 102. Since the client PCs 101 and 102 have the same configuration, the client PC 101 will be described in the following description.

  The client PC 101 includes a communication control unit 3405, a display control unit 3406, a region identification information acquisition unit 3407, a region classification unit 3408, and a search control unit 3409. A communication control unit 3405 controls communication with the form server 100 via the network 103. Further, the communication control unit 3405 receives the form file 213 from the form server 100 and passes it to the display control unit 3406.

  The display control unit 3406 controls display of the form file 213 received from the form server 100 and screen display described later. For example, the display control unit 3406 controls display so that a form file can be specified on the multiple form search screen 500 shown in FIG.

  The client PC 101 acquires the index area management information of the form file 213 selected on the multiple form search screen 500 from the index area management information master 2400 in the form server 100 by the communication control unit 3405. The area identification information acquisition unit 3407 acquires the index name from the index area management information acquired from the form server 100 via the communication control unit 3405.

  The index name acquired by the area identification information acquisition unit 3407 includes the name of the index area set in the plurality of form files 213 among the form files 213 specified by the area classification unit 3408 on the multiple form search screen 500, and Of the form files 213 specified in the form search screen 500, the names of the index areas that are set in only one form file 213 are classified. The classified index names are displayed as an index list 1305 in the target area setting field 1301 by the display control unit 3406 as shown in FIG.

  When a desired index name is specified from the index list 1305 and another search condition (type, condition, comparison) is input and search is executed, the search control unit 3409 generates search condition information and performs communication control. A search execution instruction is issued to the form server 100 via the unit 3405. The search condition information is information set or input in the target area setting field 1301, the type setting field 1302, the condition setting field 1303, and the comparison setting field 1304 of the search condition display field 502 shown in FIG.

  Display control by the display control unit 3406 is performed by a program on the client PC side. For example, Active-X is downloaded from the form server 100 to the client PC and executed.

  In the present embodiment, when the form file 213 is displayed, Active-X is downloaded from the form server 100 to the client PC, and the form file 213 is displayed by the browser on the client PC. Further, although various display controls for performing a search using an index are controlled using Active-X, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, you may comprise with a client server type system, without using a browser. In this case, a unique program that can display and search the form file 213 on the client PC side can be installed in advance and realized. Further, the search unit 3403 can be provided with a function on the client PC side.

  A form display control program is stored in the external memory in the client PC 101. By executing the form display control program, the functions of the communication control unit 3405, the display control unit 3406, the region identification information acquisition unit 3407, the region classification unit 3408, and the search control unit 3409 are realized. This form display control program may be a program (including HTML) that can be controlled by a browser (Internet browsing program) stored in an external memory in the client PC 101, or may be a program that is uniquely configured.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the form file 213.

  The form file 213 includes form information 3301 that defines a layout such as ruled lines and drawings in the form, form text data 3302 relating to characters included in the form, form layout definition information 3303 that defines line pitch, character font, and the like in the form, The form is composed of form text arrangement information 3304 for determining the arrangement of the form text data in the form.

  When the client PC 101 displays a form (form image), the form server 100 generates form data for display from the four information files shown in the figure, downloads the form data, temporarily stores it on the hard disk, and loads it into the work memory After that, it is displayed on the display as a form. For example, in the case of a client server type system, four information files are downloaded from the form server 100, form data for display is generated by the client PC 101, and displayed as a form on the display. May be. The form layout definition information 3303 includes information related to the form layout, and the height of each line of the form is defined from this information.

  The form file 213 is composed of one or a plurality of files and contains one or a plurality of pages. The form server 100 manages the same type of a plurality of form files 213 as a group, and each form file 213 is called a generation within the group. For example, like the business daily report, the same type of forms with different dates and times are managed as generations.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the index file 214.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the index file 214 includes a key file 301 and a position file 302. These two files have data of one area on the form. The index file 214 is a file in which data related to the area designated by the user and the position (coordinates) of the data are extracted from the form file 213 and stored, and is a file dedicated to the search process of the form file 213. The index file 214 and the form file 213 are associated with each other with reference to FIG.

  In the key file 301, a character string extracted from a certain area on the form designated by the user (an area designated in a rectangular coordinate field in index area management information described later) is stored as a key character string 301a. Yes. The key file 301 stores a start record position 301b and an end record position 301c. The record position indicates the record number of the position file 302 linked to the key file 301.

  In the position file 302, the page number where the key character string is found, the start position (coordinates) and the end position (coordinates) on the form are stored as records. The data is sorted in ascending order of the key string.

  In the illustrated example, the key character string is a date, and date data extracted from the area on the form is sorted in ascending order and stored in the key character string 301 a of the key file 301. Also, it can be seen from the record numbers stored in the start record position 301b and the end record position 301c that date data exists in the position information stored in the corresponding record position of the position file. For example, when searching for data that matches “20000105” (January 5, 2000) by the search process, the key character string 301a of the key file 301 can be scanned to confirm the presence of the data. Then, from the start record position 301b and the end record position 301c stored in the record, the position information of the corresponding record number 3 in the position file is within the range of coordinates 120 to 130 on the first page of the form, and the record Based on the position information of number 4, it can be determined that “20000105” exists in the range of coordinates 50 to 60 on the second page of the form.

  On the other hand, when the search target is “20000104”, it exists in three ranges of coordinates 50 to 60, 65 to 75, and 80 to 90 on the first page of the form.

  In this embodiment, when the index file 214 is created, the form data for display generated from the four files in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display of the client PC by, for example, an area (FIG. 22 (a The search target area designated on the screen shown in FIG. By transmitting the position information of the area set by the administrator to the form server 100, it is set using the form text arrangement information 3304, form text data 3302, and form layout definition information 3303 included in the form file 213. Extract the character string in the specified area. Specifically, the client PC 101 acquires from the form text arrangement information 3304 which coordinate position the form text data 3302 is arranged on the form image, and compares the arrangement coordinates of the text data and the position information of the index area. Based on the relationship, the line specified by the position information and the character string included in the effective range of the line are extracted. A key file 301 and a position file 302 shown in FIG. 6 are generated from the extracted character string and the coordinate position indicating where the character string is on the electronic form. The key file 301 and the index position file 302 become the index file 214.

  Next, a method for creating the index file 214 will be described.

  In this embodiment, when searching for a plurality of form files 213, it is necessary to set index area management information in the plurality of form files 213. An index file 214 is created based on the set index area management information. The timing when the index file 214 is created is the timing when a new generation form file is registered in the form file in which the index area management information is set. In addition, when it is necessary to perform an index search for a form file 213 in which no index file 214 exists, an index area is set in the form file in accordance with the operation of the administrator. It is also possible to create the index file 214 at the timing when the index area management information of the set index area is registered (stored).

  When the new generation form is registered, the index file 214 of the new generation form that has already been registered is generated using the rectangular coordinates of the index area management information of the other generation form. When the index file 214 is created, the index area management information of other generations of forms is copied to the external memory 211 (or DB 215), and the generation ID of the copied index area management information is registered as a new generation. It is rewritten to the generation ID of the form.

  Note that the generation of the index file 214 or the index area management information when a new generation form is registered is not limited to the above-described method. For example, when a new generation form is registered, the index area management information stored in another generation is copied to the external memory 211 (or DB 215), and the generation ID of the copied index area management information is This is rewritten with the generation ID of the form registered as a new generation. The index file 214 is created according to the rewritten index area management information.

  Next, with respect to the form file 213, an administrator designates an area (index area) for creating the index file 214, and the flow for setting the index area is shown in FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (b). Will be described with reference to FIG.

  The index file 214 is displayed on the client PC by the administrator displaying a form file 213 registered (stored) in the form server 100 in advance as shown in FIG. 22A, and the index file 214 is indexed on the displayed form file 213. Created by specifying an area. The administrator uses the input unit 209 such as a mouse or a keyboard to specify an index area in which a character string or the like on the displayed form file 213 is arranged. When the index area is designated, an index rectangle (index area) information (index area management information) setting dialog 1002 shown in FIG. 22B is displayed. As shown in FIG. 7, the index area management information is information for managing the index file 214, and is created together with the index file 214. For example, the index area management information is linked to the index file 214 by an index ID or the like.

  On the displayed setting dialog 1002, three types (type information) 1004 of numerical values, characters, and dates can be selected as index area management information. When a date is selected, a date expression format 1005 can also be specified. The name input to the index name input area 1003 is a name arbitrarily given to the area after the administrator specifies the index area. Note that the name of the group index assigned when a plurality of form files 213 are grouped is also held as an index name.

  In the illustrated example, an area 1001 is designated on the date data (handling date and time) of the form. In the setting dialog 1002, an arbitrary character string (character string information) “handled date” is input to the index name input area 1003 as the index name, and “date” is set to the check box 1004 as the type. . Since the type is date, “YY / MM / DD” is set as a date display format from the drop-down list.

  By the above setting operation, index area management information for creating the index file 214 is stored in the external memory 211 or the like.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the index area management information.

  The form ID is an identification ID assigned to each form. The generation ID is an identification ID given to each generation of a certain type of form. In the present embodiment, it is possible to manage the same type of forms with different contents as generations. For example, the monthly report for January and the monthly report for February are managed by different generations (managed by different generation IDs), and the forms are the same form (managed by the same form ID). In this embodiment, even if the forms have different generation IDs, the index area management information is stored in the forms of all generations as long as they have the same form ID. Is not shown.

  The index ID is a unique ID that identifies the index area management information. The index ID is assigned by the form server 100 when the index file 214 is generated. The index name is a name arbitrarily designated by the administrator. In the rectangular coordinates (search position), coordinate information (X coordinate, y coordinate), height, and width are stored. In the rectangle type (attribute information), the type of rectangle is stored. In the present embodiment, there are three types: “character”, “numerical value”, and “date”. The date expression format takes one of the following formats: yy | mm | dd | yymm | mmdd | yymmdd | mmddyy.

  The index area management information is registered in the DB 215 as the index area management information master 2400.

  Next, the flow of searching for a plurality of forms in the electronic form management system of FIG. 1 will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of searching for a plurality of forms in the electronic form management system of FIG.

  In FIG. 8, when a user searches for a plurality of form data using the client PC 101, first, index information (search information) acquisition processing is performed between the client PC 101 and the form server 100 (step S101). The index information is information necessary for form search, and is acquired according to the form selected on the client PC from the index area management information master 2400 shown in FIG. 24 stored and managed in the DB 215 in the form server 100. Information. Details of the index information acquisition process will be described later.

  After the index information acquisition process is completed, when the target area setting field 1301 is pressed on the multiple form search screen 500 by the user, an index list 1305 (area list) is displayed by the index area display process as shown in FIG. (Step S103). By the index area display process, an index list 1305 corresponding to a plurality of types of forms to be searched is displayed in a pull-down manner, and the search process can be performed based on the selected index. Details of the index area display processing will be described later.

  When an arbitrary index is selected from the index list displayed on the client PC 101 and the right button of the mouse is clicked by the user, the menu screen shown in FIG. 19 is displayed, and the process proceeds to step S105 menu selection processing. If the left button of the mouse is clicked, the process proceeds to step S108.

  If group index creation (1001 in FIG. 19) is selected by menu selection in step S105, a new group index addition process is performed in step S106. For example, if the index names “Bangou”, “No”, and “Kozabangou” have the same contents and a plurality of search processes are to be performed as the same index, the new group index process of step S106 is performed. In addition, when adding a form with no index as a search target, a search target form addition process (virtual index creation process) in step S107 is performed. For example, although there is no index corresponding to the account number, this processing is executed when searching for the area of the account number in the form as a multiple form search.

  Next, when there is no index corresponding to the account number among the plurality of selected forms, a search form addition process (virtual index creation process) in step S107 is performed. This process is changed from the menu selection (menu screen 1900 in FIG. 19) in step S105.

  On the other hand, when the search execution button 508 is pressed by the user after input is made in step S103 and subsequent steps, search execution processing is performed between the client PC 101 and the form server 100 (step S109). The search execution process in step S109 needs to be performed after the search conditions are set in step S103 and subsequent steps, but is not controlled by internal processing but is executed by a user operation.

  In step S108, the client PC 101 performs search condition setting processing. As the search condition, when the search target index is selected by selecting the target area setting field 1301 in the search condition designation field 504, the search type corresponding to the index name is displayed.

  The search type is already distinguished at the time of index creation, and there are characters, numerical values, and dates as types. In the condition setting field 1303, a value to be actually searched is input. Even if the input is performed directly in the cell, the dialog is displayed once and can be input from the dialog.

  When the comparison setting field 1304 is selected, comparison conditions are displayed as a list 1306. The condition displayed in the list 1306 is that the search type is different depending on the character and the numerical value. The condition is displayed. In the case of a numerical value, the comparison conditions of “equal to”, “greater than”, “less than”, “greater than”, “less than”, and “different from” are displayed. The comparison condition of “date of”, “date before”, “date after”, “date before”, “date different from” is displayed.

  When the search condition setting in step S108 is completed and the search execution button is pressed (the search execution button is pressed in step S102), the client PC 101 performs the search execution process in step S109. As an example, “account number” is an index to be searched this time from information 2600 stored in an index information buffer (an area on a RAM reserved for storing index information) after adding a virtual index shown in FIG. And In this case, the index information of the index to be searched this time is acquired from the information stored in the index information buffer after the virtual index is added. For example, in the case of an account number, the acquired index information is information 2700 after selecting the search target area shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of the index information acquisition processing in step S101 of FIG.

  In step S201, the client PC 101 displays a multiple form search screen 500 shown in FIG. 14 on the display unit. The screen display is performed using, for example, a browser provided in the client PC 101, but is not limited thereto.

  The multiple form search screen 500 includes a selected form list display field 501 and a search condition display field 502. In the selected form list display field 501, a form ID display field 505, a form name display field 506, and a directory display field 507 are arranged. In the search condition display field 502, a target area setting field 1301, a type setting field 1302, a condition setting field 1303, and a comparison setting field 1304 are arranged as the search condition specifying field 504.

  When a form addition button 503 is clicked on the multiple form search screen 500, a form selection screen 600 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed. A directory ID and a form ID are displayed in the ID column 601 on the form selection screen 600. In the name column 602, a directory name and a form name are displayed.

  Whether the ID displayed in the ID column 601 is a directory or a form is determined by an icon beside the displayed ID. The form icon 604 has a different design from the directory icon 603.

  When a form is selected on the form selection screen 600, the form portion 604 of the ID field 601 is displayed in the form ID display field 505 on the multiple form search screen 500. In the form name display field 506, the name 606 of the form icon 604 is displayed. In the directory display field 507 on the multiple form search screen 500, a directory is displayed using the name displayed in the name display field 605.

  In this way, when a form is selected from the form list displayed on the form selection screen 600 in accordance with a user instruction, the form is added and displayed as a list as shown in FIG.

  By sequentially selecting form data to be searched on the form selection screen 600, the form data added to the selected form list display field 501 is displayed as shown in FIG. Each time form data is selected on the form selection screen 600 and form data is added to the selected form list display field 501, a form ID corresponding to the added form data is transmitted from the client PC 101 to the form server 100. The form server 100 acquires index area management information corresponding to the received form ID from the DB 215 (internal index area management information master 2400), and transmits it to the client PC 101. As described above, when “target area” in the search condition designation field 504 is pressed after the form data is selected, the index name of the received index area management information is acquired, and the index name as shown in FIG. Is displayed as a list.

  In step S <b> 202, the client PC 101 transmits a display instruction for displaying the form selection screen 600 to the form server 100 (display information acquisition request for displaying the form selection screen 600).

  In step S <b> 203, the form server 100 receives a display instruction transmitted from the client PC 101.

  In step S <b> 204, the form server 100 executes the program 212 and acquires form list information from the DB 215 based on the form file 213.

  In step S205, the form server 100 generates display information to be displayed on the client PC 101 from the form list information acquired in step S204.

  In step S206, the form server 100 transmits the display information generated in step S205 to the client PC 101.

  In step S <b> 207, the client PC 101 receives display information transmitted from the form server 100.

  In step S208, the client PC 101 displays the form selection screen 600 with a browser, for example, based on the display information received in step S207. In the form selection screen 600, the form data is displayed in a hierarchical structure.

  When the user selects a form to be manually searched on the form selection screen 600 displayed on the client PC 101 (step S209), the selected form is selected on the RAM in the client PC 101. It is stored in the form buffer as information 2800 shown in FIG.

  Next, in step S210, the client PC 101 transmits information on the search target form selected in step S209 (eg, form ID) to the form server 100.

  In step S <b> 211, the form server 100 receives the search target form information (form ID) transmitted from the client PC 101.

  In step S212, the form server 100 acquires the search target form information (form ID) transmitted from the client PC 101 and the index information corresponding to the search target form (form ID) from the index area management information master 2400 in the DB 215. (Area information acquisition) Further, the index ID of the acquired index information is compared with the group index information master 2300 shown in FIG. 23, and if there is a record having a matching index ID in the group index information master 2300, the group ID of the record is acquired. . The group index information (group ID, group index name, index ID, index name) of the record having the acquired group ID is acquired. The group index information is information held by the form server 100 when the index areas are grouped, and the index information of the grouped index areas is stored.

  In step S213, the form server 100 transmits the index information and group index information acquired in step S212 to the client PC 101.

  In step S214, the client PC 101 receives the index information and group index information transmitted from the form server 100 (area information acquisition), and stores it as information 2500 shown in FIG. 25 in the index information buffer set on the RAM.

  In step S215, the client PC 101 displays the form selection screen 600 based on the information 2500 stored in the index information buffer. Thereafter, the form can be selected again by the user's operation. When the target form is added (NO in step S215), the process returns to step S209. On the other hand, when the form selection is completed, the client PC 101 switches the display from the form selection screen 600 to the multiple form search screen 500 and returns.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the index area display processing in step S103 of FIG.

  In step S301, the client PC 101 reads index information from the information 2500 acquired in step S101 of FIG. 8 and stored in the index information buffer on the RAM one record at a time.

  In step S302, the client PC 101 confirms the presence of the index information in the index information buffer, and ends this process when there is no more index information in the buffer. On the other hand, if not, the process proceeds to step S303.

  In step S303, the client PC 101 determines whether the target index information (the index information read in step S301) has a group ID. If the group ID does not exist, the client PC 101 performs the processing from step S307. On the other hand, if the group ID exists, the processing from step S304 is performed.

  In step S304, the client PC 101 determines that the group ID exists in step S303, and determines whether the existing group ID is already set in the search target list (index list 1305) for display processing. In the case of a group ID that has already been processed, since no particular processing is executed, the process moves to step S301, and the next index information in the index information buffer is read. On the other hand, if the group ID has not yet been processed, the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S305, the client PC 101 refers to the group index information shown in FIG. 23 and acquires the group index name corresponding to the group ID.

  In step S306, the client PC 101 sets the group index name acquired in step S305 in the search target list (index list). The setting is performed on the display index list information 2900 shown in FIG. Since the group index is determined as a common index, the common index flag (FLG) in the display index list information 2900 is turned ON. The common index indicates an index existing in a plurality of forms.

  In step S307, the client PC 101 determines whether the index to be processed is an already processed index name. If the index name is not yet processed, the client PC 101 proceeds to step S308, while the index is already processed. Then, the process proceeds to step S309.

  In step S308, the client PC 101 sets the index name in the search target list. This processing is processing for setting a list of normal indexes that are not group indexes.

  In step S309, the client PC 101 turns on the common index flag (FLG) of the display index list information 2900 stored in the index information buffer set on the RAM, and determines that this index is a common index. Assumed to be performed. Although the flag is set to ON when two or more forms have a common index name, the flag may be set to ON when all the selected forms have the same index name.

  As a result of the determination in step S302, when processing for all index information is completed, an index list is displayed (step S310). For display, display index list information 2900 is used. The display index list information 2900 is an index list 1202 when a group index is created in FIG. When the common index flag is ON, it is displayed normally (for example, 901 shown in FIG. 18A), but when it is not the common index, the display character is made gray (for example, 902 shown in FIG. 18A). ) Etc. to distinguish from the common index on the list. The distinction may be anything as long as it is distinction, such as distinction or correspondence depending on the font type, in addition to the change in the color of the display character string. Thus, the user can identify whether or not the index is a common index without checking the index, thereby reducing user processing.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing details of the new group index area addition processing in step S106 of FIG.

  In step S401, the user selects a plurality of index names to be grouped from the index list 1201 shown in FIG. 18B (multiple area selection). After the selection, when the right button of the mouse is clicked, the client PC 101 displays the menu screen shown in FIG. 19 on the display unit.

  In step S402, the client PC 101 displays the group index screen shown in FIG.

  In step S403, when the user inputs an index name (for example, “Bangou”, “No.”, “Kozabango”) to be grouped on the displayed group index screen and clicks the OK button, the client PC 101 Then, the group index information (at least the index ID of the index name to be grouped and the group index name when grouped) is transmitted to the form server 100. In the illustrated example, “account number” is input as the group index name.

  In step S404, the form server 100 receives group index information from the client PC 101 and registers it as new group information in the DB 215. At this time, the form server 100 generates information necessary for registration, such as a group ID, or refers to the index area management information master 2400 shown in FIG. 24 and acquires information necessary for registration. FIG. 23 shows group index information at the time of registration. When the “Set as common index” check box on the group index screen shown in FIG. 20 is checked, the form server 100 registers new group information in the DB 215 (group index information shown in FIG. 23). Do. On the other hand, if the “Set as common index” check box is not checked, registration is not performed in the DB 215 but only in the local area.

  In step S405, the client PC 101 deletes the index name input by the user for grouping from the index list, and adds the group index name newly created in step S403 to the index list. For example, as shown in FIG. 18B, the displayed index list 1201 is switched to the index list 1202. In the index list 1202, “Kozabango”, “Bangou”, and “No.” on the index list 1201 are deleted, and a group index name “account number” is added as an index name. When the process of adding a new group area is performed, the display is switched from the index list 1201 to the index list 1202, as shown in FIG. The display is switched by executing the process of step S103 again.

  In step S <b> 406, the client PC 101 acquires an index name from the display index list information 2900 and performs display processing in order to display it in the target area setting field 1301.

  Through the above processing, for example, three index names “Kouza Bango”, “Bangou”, and “No.” can be handled as one group index name “account number”. As a result, a plurality of pieces of index information can be handled as one piece of index information without changing existing index information. Further, it is possible to divert existing index information without setting new index information, and it is possible to reduce the burden on the user.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of search target form addition (virtual index addition) processing in step S107 of FIG.

  In step S501, the client PC 101 displays an index use form addition / deletion screen 2100 shown in FIG. 21A on the display unit in response to a user operation. In the index use form addition / deletion screen 2100, an index name to be searched is selected from the index list 1305 of the target area setting field 1301 shown in FIG. 17, and the menu screen 1900 shown in FIG. After being displayed, this is displayed when the index use form addition / deletion column 1002 is selected. When the index use form addition / deletion screen 2100 is displayed, the client PC 101 reads the information 2500 shown in FIG. 25 corresponding to the index name selected by the user from the index information buffer, and the form having the selected index name exists. Get an ID. Then, the form ID having the index name is displayed in the used form display field 1401. On the other hand, a form ID having no index name is displayed in the unused form display field 1402.

  In the present embodiment, it is configured to be able to confirm in which form the index exists by displaying the index use form addition / deletion screen 2100. However, the number of forms in which the index exists on the index list 1305 is shown. May be displayed so that the user can easily change the index. In this case, it can be realized by counting how many forms are used for each index and holding the counted number in the display index list information 2900. The held number is displayed next to each index name in the index list 1305 displayed in the target area setting field 1301 (for example, “account number (4)”).

  In step S502, when the user selects a form in the used form display field 1401 and the unused form display field 1402 and presses an arrow button 1403, the client PC 101 adds / deletes the search target form. In the index use form addition / deletion screen 2100 shown in FIG. 21A, the next button 1404 is grayed out and cannot be selected, but the arrow button 1403 is pressed to add / delete the search target form. When this occurs, the next button 1404 can be used as shown in FIG. When the next button 1404 is clicked, search target addition processing is performed.

  In step S503, the client PC 101 displays a virtual index area designation screen (screen for designating a search target area) shown in FIG. An image of the added form is displayed on the virtual index area designation screen. Specifically, the index use form addition / deletion screen 2100 shown in FIG. 21A is displayed, and the form ID displayed in the unused form display column 1402 (in the example shown, “Jutta clone leopard”) is displayed. When the left arrow button 1403 is pressed, it is added to the use form display field 1401. As described above, when the form ID displayed in the unused form display field 1402 is added to the used form display field 1401, when the next button 1404 is pressed, the form ID (( In the example shown in the figure, “printing clone leopard”) is transmitted from the client PC 101 to the form server 100. The form server 100 searches the form file 213 according to the received form ID. As a result of the search, the acquired form is transmitted from the form server 100 to the client PC 101 and displayed on the display unit of the client PC 101.

  In step S504, the client PC 101 receives a search area specification on the virtual index area specification screen by the user (specified area setting). The search target area is specified by specifying the range in the dragged state of the mouse, and the search target area is specified by dropping. The designated search target area is set as a virtual index. The virtual index is an area that is searched by referring to the form file 213 in FIG. 5 from the coordinates of the search target area without using the index file 214, and is an area that is temporarily set.

  In step S505, the client PC 101 acquires position information of the search target area based on the search target area specified in step S504. For example, as in the area 1001 on the screen of FIG. 22A, when the account number area is designated as the search target area, the search target area is determined and an adaptation button (not shown) is pressed. Thus, the information 2600 shown in FIG. 26 is stored in the index information buffer on the RAM in the client PC 101. The information 2600 includes a search flag item, G = group index, N = normal index (flag for searching using the index file 214), I = virtual index (search target area without using the index file 214) The contents of the index are discriminated by the flag) and the flag for searching with reference to the form file 213 in FIG. In addition to the search flag, information stored in the index information buffer by this processing is an index name, a form ID, and a search position. The index name is the index name (for example, “account number”) used in other forms, the form ID is the form ID of the currently displayed form, and the search position is the specified search target area (virtual index area) ) Position information (for example, coordinates) is stored in the index information buffer using the type (for example, “character”) used in other forms as the search type (specified area setting).

  With this process, a virtual index area is temporarily created even for form data having no index information, and a plurality of form data can be searched, which improves convenience for the user. The created virtual index area (including information on the area) is configured to be deleted when the user logs out after the search is completed. As a result, since the created virtual index area remains while the user is logged in, the form data in which the virtual index area is set is searched without the user setting the virtual index area again. This increases the efficiency of search operations.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of the search execution process in step S109 of FIG.

  In step S601, the client PC 101 reads the form ID of the form data selected as the search target from the information 2800 shown in FIG. 28 stored in the selected form information buffer.

  In step S602, the client PC 101 determines whether all the processes for the form ID of the form data selected as the search target have been completed. For example, for each form ID of the information 2800 shown in FIG. 28, it is determined whether or not the processing after step S603 has been performed. When all the processes for the selected form ID are completed, the search returns as having been completed.

  In step S603, the client PC 101 acquires index information corresponding to the form ID of the form data selected as the search target from the index information buffer on the RAM.

  In step S604, the client PC 101 determines whether or not the index information corresponding to the form ID of the form data selected as the search target has been acquired. Specifically, the CPU of the client PC 101 determines whether the same form ID exists in the information 2700 after selecting the search target area shown in FIG. 27 for each form ID of the information 2800 shown in FIG. If the index information does not exist as a result of the determination in step S604, the process proceeds to step S605. If the index information exists, the process proceeds to step S606.

  In step S605, the client PC 101 displays a message indicating that the index information of the form data selected as the search target does not exist on the display unit 210 as a search result, and executes the process of step S601 to search for the next form. Return to.

  In step S606, the client PC 101 determines the type of index information of the form data selected as the search target. The type is determined using the search flag of the information 2700 after selection of the search target area. If the type of index information is a normal index (search flag N), the process proceeds to step S607. If the type of index information is a group index (search flag is G), the process proceeds to step S608. If the type of index information is a newly added search target (virtual index, that is, the search flag is I), the process proceeds to step S609. For example, in the case of the information 2700 after selection of the search target area shown in FIG. 27, the process of step S608 is performed on the form data with the index IDs IDX0001, 0006, and 0008, and the form data with the form ID “Jutta clone leopard” In step S609, the process of step S609 is performed.

  In step S607, the client PC 101 sets normal index information as a search condition. The contents to be set are an index ID and a form ID. Further, the search conditions (search type, search value, comparison information) set in step S108 in FIG. 8 are also set in the search conditions (search condition input).

  In step S608, the client PC 101 sets the index ID and the form ID as search conditions from the index information buffer on the RAM. Since the group ID is for display, it is not set in the search condition. The search conditions (search type, search value, comparison information) set in step S108 are also set in the search conditions (input search conditions).

  In step S609, the client PC 101 does not set the index ID information as the search condition, but uses the search position and the form ID of the information 2700 after selecting the search target area shown in FIG. 27 obtained in step S107 of FIG. Set to (Search condition input). Further, the search conditions (search type, search value, comparison information) set in step S108 in FIG. 8 are also set in the search conditions (search condition input).

  In step S610, the client PC 101 transmits the search condition set in step S607, step S608, or step S609 to the form server 100 (search instruction).

  In step S611, the form server 100 receives the search condition transmitted from the client PC 101. Next, in step S612, the form server 100 executes a search process based on the received search condition. In step S612, the contents of the search process to be executed differ depending on whether the search condition is normal index information or group index information and a virtual index. In the case of normal index information and group index information, the corresponding index file 214 is obtained based on the received index ID in the search condition, and the index file 214 is searched using the search type, search value, and comparison information. Do.

  Since the virtual index does not actually hold the index file 214, the corresponding form file is acquired from the form file 213 in accordance with the form ID of the received search condition. The form server 100 acquires information indicating where the form text data 3302 is arranged on the form image from the form text arrangement information 3304 of the obtained form file, and the arrangement coordinates of the form text data 3302 Based on the relative relationship of the received position information of the search condition, a line specified by the position information and a character string included in the effective range of the line are extracted. As a result, it is possible to search a form for which index information is not set in the same manner as a form having index information. In other words, even for forms without index information, users can search as if there is index information. Conventionally, if there is no index information, a request is made to the administrator or a form without index information is searched simultaneously. Searching is possible without causing the problem of being unable to do so.

  In step S613, the form server 100 transmits a search result list of the search process performed in step S612 to the client PC 101.

  In step S614, the client PC 101 receives the search result list transmitted from the form server 100.

  In step S615, the client PC 101 displays a search result list as shown in FIGS. Further, when 3101 is specified (for example, double-clicked) with the mouse in the search result list, a page of the form that matches the search condition is displayed on the display of the client PC 101, and a record of a part that matches the search condition on the displayed page is displayed. It is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other records (for example, highlight display). After displaying the search result list, the client PC 101 proceeds to the processing of step S601 in order to search for the next form.

  By the above processing, a plurality of forms can be searched even for forms that do not have different index names or indexes.

  According to the above embodiment, when searching for a plurality of form data, the load on the user is reduced and the search is facilitated.

  The object of the present invention can also be achieved by executing the following processing. That is, a storage medium that records a program code of software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. This is the process of reading the code. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  Moreover, the following can be used as a storage medium for supplying the program code. For example, floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM or the like. Alternatively, the program code may be downloaded via a network.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, an OS (operating system) running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on an instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. Is also included.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by the following processing. That is, the program code read from the storage medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer. Thereafter, based on the instruction of the program code, the CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing.

  Further, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer. In addition, there is a case where the OS running on the computer performs part or all of the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing. In this case, the program is supplied by downloading directly from a storage medium storing the program or from another computer or database (not shown) connected to the Internet, a commercial network, a local area network, or the like.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an electronic form management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the form server in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the function part of a form server. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the function part of client PC. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a form file. It is a figure which shows the structural example of an index file. It is a figure which shows the structural example of index area management information. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of multiple forms search in the electronic form management system of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the index information acquisition process in step S101 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the index area | region display process in step S103 of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the new group index area | region addition process of step S106 of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing details of search target form addition (virtual index addition) processing in step S107 of FIG. 8; FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the search execution process in step S109 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a multiple form search screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a form selection screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the selection form list display column in a multiple form search screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a search condition input in a multiple forms search screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the object area | region setting column at the time of form search. It is a figure which shows the example of a menu screen displayed at the time of selection of the index name displayed on the object area | region setting column. It is a figure which shows the group index screen displayed when grouping the selected index name. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the group index screen at the time of grouping. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the screen displayed when a virtual index area | region is designated. It is a figure which shows an example of a group index information master. It is a figure which shows an example of an index area management information master. It is a figure which shows an example of the information stored in the index information buffer set on RAM in client PC. It is a figure which shows an example of the information to which the virtual index was added to the information stored in the index information buffer. It is a figure which shows an example of the information stored in the index information buffer after search object area | region selection. It is a figure which shows an example of the information stored in the selection form buffer set on RAM in client PC. It is a figure which shows an example of the index list information for a display. It is a figure which shows the partial screen of the search result list displayed on client PC. It is a figure which shows an example of a search result list screen and a search position.

Explanation of symbols

100 Form server 101, 102 Client PC
103 Network 201 CPU
202 RAM
211 External memory 212 Program 213 Form file 214 Index file 215 DB

Claims (12)

An information processing apparatus that is communicably connected to a server apparatus that stores form data and area information of an area set for searching the form data in association with each other,
Form data designation means for accepting designation of form data to be searched;
Area information acquisition means for acquiring area information corresponding to the form data designated by the form data designation means;
Classification means for classifying areas set in the form data designated by the form data designation means into grouped areas and ungrouped areas according to the area information obtained by the area information obtaining means;
Display means for displaying a character string for allowing a user to select a grouped area and an ungrouped area classified by the classification means, respectively,
In order to search for the form data designated by the form data designation means, a character string designation means for accepting designation of a character string displayed by the display means,
A search condition input means for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process on an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying means;
Search instruction means for performing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying means from the form data specified by the form data specifying means;
The character string designating means further comprises a plurality of character string selecting means for accepting selection of a plurality of character strings, and a grouping means for instructing grouping of areas corresponding to the plurality of selected character strings. A characteristic information processing apparatus.   The area according to the character string designated by the character string designation means is further provided with designated area setting means for designating and setting form data in which the area is not set. Information processing device.   The search instruction means, when an area is designated by the designated area setting means, a form in which an area corresponding to the character string designated by the character string designation means is not set according to position information of the designated area. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a search instruction for searching for data is issued. An electronic form management system capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a server apparatus that stores form data and area information of an area set for retrieving the form data in association with each other,
The information processing apparatus includes:
Form data designation means for accepting designation of form data to be searched;
Area information acquisition means for acquiring area information corresponding to the form data designated by the form data designation means;
Classification means for classifying areas set in the form data designated by the form data designation means into grouped areas and ungrouped areas according to the area information obtained by the area information obtaining means;
Display means for displaying a character string for allowing a user to select a grouped area and an ungrouped area classified by the classification means, respectively,
In order to search for the form data designated by the form data designation means, a character string designation means for accepting designation of a character string displayed by the display means;
A search condition input means for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process on an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying means;
Search instruction means for performing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying means from the form data specified by the form data specifying means;
The character string designating means further includes a plurality of character string selecting means for accepting selection of a plurality of character strings, and a grouping means for instructing grouping of regions corresponding to the selected character strings. Yes,
The server device
The form data designated by the form data designation means in the information processing apparatus and area information corresponding to the designated form data, wherein areas set in the form data are grouped in the information processing apparatus. Transmission means for transmitting area information including information that can be classified into an area and an ungrouped area to the information processing apparatus;
Search processing means for executing search processing in accordance with a search instruction in the information processing apparatus;
Group registration means for registering, in the area information, information that can classify the areas corresponding to the plurality of selected character strings as the same group in accordance with the grouping instruction made by the grouping means in the information processing apparatus An electronic form management system characterized by comprising: Form data designation means for accepting designation of form data to be searched, area information acquisition means for obtaining area information corresponding to the form data designated by the form data designation means, and obtained by the area information acquisition means Classification means for classifying areas set in the form data designated by the form data designation means according to area information into grouped areas and ungrouped areas, and grouping classified by the classification means Display means for displaying the character string for allowing the user to select the selected area and the ungrouped area, respectively, and the display for searching the form data designated by the form data designation means. A character string designating unit for accepting designation of the character string displayed by the means, and an area corresponding to the character string designated by the character string designating unit A search condition input unit that receives input of a search condition for performing a search process for the search data, and is arranged in an area corresponding to the character string specified by the character string specifying unit from the form data specified by the form data specifying unit Search instruction means for performing a search instruction for searching the form data to be performed, wherein the character string designating means includes a plurality of character string selection means for accepting selection of a plurality of character strings, and the plurality of selected character strings. corresponding in correspondence with the area information of the area set to search further in Bei obtain information processing apparatus capable of communicating with the form data and the form data and grouping means for an instruction to group the regions A server device for storing,
The form data designated by the form data designation means in the information processing apparatus and area information corresponding to the designated form data, wherein areas set in the form data are grouped in the information processing apparatus. Transmission means for transmitting area information including information that can be classified into an area and an ungrouped area to the information processing apparatus;
Search processing means for executing search processing in accordance with a search instruction in the information processing apparatus;
Group registration means for registering, in the area information, information that can classify the areas corresponding to the plurality of selected character strings as the same group in accordance with the grouping instruction made by the grouping means in the information processing apparatus A server device comprising: A form search method for an information processing apparatus communicably connected to a server apparatus that stores form data and area information of an area set for searching in the form data in association with each other,
A form data designation process for accepting designation of form data to be searched;
An area information acquisition step for acquiring area information corresponding to the form data designated in the form data designation step from the server device;
In accordance with the region information acquired in the region information acquisition step, a classification step of classifying the region set in the form data designated in the form data designation step into a grouped region and an ungrouped region,
A display step for displaying the character strings for allowing the user to select the grouped region and the non-grouped region classified in the classification step, respectively,
In order to search for the form data designated in the form data designation step, a character string designation step for accepting designation of the character string displayed in the display step;
A search condition input step for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process on a region corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step;
A search instruction step for performing a search instruction for searching for form data arranged in an area corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step from the form data specified in the form data specifying step;
The character string designating step further includes a plurality of character string selecting steps for accepting selection of a plurality of character strings, and a grouping step for instructing grouping of regions corresponding to the selected character strings. Feature form search method. A form search method of an electronic form management system capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus and a server device that stores form data and area information of an area set for searching for the form data,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A form data designation process for accepting designation of form data to be searched;
An area information acquisition step for acquiring area information corresponding to the form data designated in the form data designation step;
In accordance with the region information acquired in the region information acquisition step, a classification step of classifying the region set in the form data designated in the form data designation step into a grouped region and an ungrouped region,
A display step for displaying the character strings for allowing the user to select the grouped region and the non-grouped region classified in the classification step, respectively,
In order to search for the form data designated in the form data designation step, a character string designation step for accepting designation of the character string displayed in the display step;
A search condition input step for receiving an input of a search condition for performing a search process on a region corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step;
From the form data specified by the form data designation step, perform a search instruction step of performing a search instruction for search for form data to be arranged in a region corresponding to the character string specified by the character string designation step ,
The character string specifying step, which further executes a grouping process of a plurality character string selection step of accepting a selection of a plurality of character strings, instructing to group the regions corresponding to the plurality of character strings said selected And
The server device
Form data designated by the form data designation step in the information processing apparatus and area information corresponding to the designated form data, wherein areas set in the form data are grouped in the information processing apparatus A transmission step of transmitting area information including information that can be classified into an area and an ungrouped area to the information processing apparatus;
A search process step of executing a search process according to a search instruction in the information processing apparatus;
A group registration step of registering in the region information information that can classify the regions corresponding to the selected plurality of character strings as the same group in accordance with the grouping instruction made by the grouping step in the information processing apparatus The form search method characterized by performing these . Obtained in the form data designation process for accepting designation of the form data to be searched, the area information acquisition process for obtaining area information corresponding to the form data designated in the form data designation process, and the area information acquisition process A classification process for classifying areas set in the form data designated in the form data designation process according to area information into grouped areas and ungrouped areas, and grouping classified in the classification process A display step for displaying a character string for allowing the user to select the selected region and an ungrouped region, and the display for searching the form data specified in the form data specifying step. A character string designating process for accepting designation of the character string displayed in the process, and an area corresponding to the character string designated in the character string designating process A search condition input step for receiving input of a search condition for performing search processing on the basis of the form data specified in the form data specifying step and an area corresponding to the character string specified in the character string specifying step A search instruction step for performing a search instruction for searching the form data to be performed , wherein the character string specifying step includes a plurality of character string selection steps for accepting selection of a plurality of character strings, and the plurality of selected characters. The form data that can be communicated with the information processing apparatus that further executes the grouping step that instructs to group the areas corresponding to the columns is associated with the area information of the areas that are set to search for the form data. A form retrieval method for a server device to be stored,
Form data designated by the form data designation step in the information processing apparatus and area information corresponding to the designated form data, wherein areas set in the form data are grouped in the information processing apparatus A transmission step of transmitting area information including information that can be classified into an area and an ungrouped area to the information processing apparatus;
A search process step of executing a search process according to a search instruction in the information processing apparatus;
A group registration step of registering in the region information information that can classify the regions corresponding to the selected plurality of character strings as the same group in accordance with the grouping instruction made by the grouping step in the information processing apparatus A form retrieval method characterized by comprising: Program for executing a document search method according to an information processing apparatus to claim 6. Program for executing a document search method according to an information processing apparatus to claim 7. Program for executing a document search method according to the server apparatus in claim 8. A program for causing a server device to execute the form retrieval method according to claim 7.

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