JP5971326B2 - Data processing apparatus, file selection support method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for handling a file capable of storing arbitrary data.

  In a data processing apparatus represented by a computer, data is managed in a file that is one of logical units. The data stored in the file is treated as one unit. Arbitrary data can be stored in the file.

  In recent years, the capacity of storage devices has become very large due to advances in microfabrication technology. Along with the increase in capacity, it is now possible to store many files on the same storage device.

  Usually, the data processing apparatus can arbitrarily create a logical storage location (folder or the like) on the storage device. Each storage location can have a unique name. Therefore, the user can efficiently manage files by collecting a plurality of files related to one storage location.

  Even if files are divided according to storage locations, the number of files stored in a single storage location is increasing due to the increase in storage capacity. A unique name (file name) can be assigned to the file. However, as the number of files increases, it is difficult to give file names that can easily identify the contents of stored data. Depending on the situation and the number of files, there may be no room for assigning file names that can identify the contents. For this reason, it is desirable to provide information that makes it easier for the user to specify the contents of the stored data, considering the convenience for the user.

  Files stored in one storage location are displayed by icons or symbols such as file names. The user can open a file represented by the symbol by performing a predetermined operation (for example, a double click operation) on the symbol.

  An operating system (OS) executed by a data processing apparatus is equipped with a file system that is a program for operating resources of the data processing apparatus. As a result, the data processing apparatus normally includes a file manager that is a program that provides a user interface for the user to use the file system. The display of the symbol is realized by a file manager.

  Currently, many files store data of predetermined items such as title, creator, update date, size, etc. as property data. A conventional data processing apparatus has a function of displaying property data of a file represented by a symbol when the mouse cursor is moved over the symbol. For this reason, the user can specify the content of the data stored in the file from the displayed property data.

  Property data can be basically divided into data that can be input by the user and data that is automatically updated. The data that can be input by the user is the title, the creator, and the like, and the automatically updated data is the update date and time, the size, and the like.

  Data that is automatically updated is basically not data representing the contents of data stored in a file. For this reason, it is difficult to specify the content of data stored in the file from the data.

  The user can input data useful for specifying the content of data stored in the file as data that can be input by the user. Therefore, when data that can be input by the user is used effectively, the user can easily specify the content of the data stored in the file from the displayed property data. However, for that purpose, the user must consider data that can easily specify the contents of the file, and input the data as property data. Property data is data that the user does not need to edit. For this reason, it is necessary for the user to perform a troublesome data input operation that is not necessary.

  From the above, it seems desirable for the user to be able to more easily identify the contents of the file without performing a special data input operation (input operation of property data or the like). In other words, it would be desirable to allow the user to easily identify the contents of the file without relying on property data.

JP-A-62-249270 JP 2000-284878 A JP 2000-76473 A JP-A-6-131341

  In one aspect, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for allowing a user to more easily specify the contents of a file without performing an input operation of property data or the like.

  One system to which the present invention is applied stores symbol display means for displaying a symbol representing an accessible file, and when the symbol display means displays the symbol, the file is stored in the file represented by the symbol. Extraction means for extracting the second data from the first data displayed by opening the file, and data display means for displaying the second data extracted by the extraction means.

  In one system to which the present invention is applied, the user can more easily specify the contents of a file without performing input work such as property data.

It is a figure explaining the functional structure of the data processor by this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the process performed in order that a data processor by this embodiment may assist a user so that the contents of a file can be specified more easily. It is a figure explaining the data matched with the data extracted in the case of a spreadsheet file. It is a figure explaining the data matched with the data extracted in the case of a document file, and the data. It is a figure explaining the data stored in an extraction management file. It is a flowchart of a pop-up display process. It is a flowchart of a pop-up display process (continuation). It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions of the computer which can apply this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the data processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a data processing apparatus main body 2, an operation unit 3, and a display unit 4. The data processing apparatus main body 2 includes an input unit 21, a control unit 22, a display control unit 23, a storage unit 24, an access unit 25, and an extraction unit 26.

  The data processing device main body 2 is a personal computer (PC), for example, and the operation unit 3 and the display unit 4 are devices connected to the PC. Specifically, the operation unit 3 includes a keyboard and a pointing device such as a mouse. The display unit 4 is a liquid crystal display device, for example. The configuration of the data processing device 1 may be a configuration in which at least one of the operation unit 3 and the display unit 4 is mounted on the data processing device main body 2. That is, the configuration of the data processing device 1 is not limited to that shown in FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining processing performed by the data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment to assist the user in specifying the file contents more easily. Before explaining the details of FIG. 1, referring to FIG. 2, a process (operation) for assisting the user in identifying the contents of the file more easily by the data processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. The data actually presented to the user will be specifically described.

  The data processing apparatus 1 displays an icon representing an accessible file or a symbol such as a file name on the display unit 4 by a user operation on the operation unit 3. Reference numeral 31 in FIG. 2 denotes an icon displayed as a symbol representing a file. Here, an icon 31 is assumed as a symbol. Reference numeral 32 denotes a mouse cursor. “Memo.txt” written in the vicinity of the icon 31 represents a file name displayed together with the icon 31.

  In the present embodiment, as data representing the contents of a file, a part of data displayed by opening the file is extracted, and the extracted data is presented as information for the user to specify the contents of the file. The presentation is performed when the mouse cursor 32 is moved onto the icon 31 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the extracted data is presented in a form in which a pop-up 33 is displayed in the vicinity of the icon 31 and arranged in the pop-up 33. In FIG. 2, “● morning matter”, “● day matter”, and “● night matter”, which are character strings marked with 34, represent extracted data.

  Each character string 34 functions as a button for selecting data to be displayed. Here, the data extracted as the character string 34 and the data associated with the data for display will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

  A file can be classified into a document file, a spreadsheet file, an image file, a music file, a moving image file, and the like according to stored data. In the present embodiment, the data to be extracted and the data associated with the data differ depending on the type of the file. Here, with reference to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the data to be extracted in the spreadsheet file and the document file and the data associated with the data will be specifically described.

  Reference numeral 40 in FIG. 3A represents a display screen (image) when the spreadsheet file is opened. In the spreadsheet file, the display screen 40 includes a display area 41 where the sheet name 42 is arranged and a display area 43 where the sheet data is arranged. Each sheet name 42 arranged in the display area 41 is a button for selecting a sheet to be displayed in the display area 43. Accordingly, the user can display a desired sheet in the display area 43 by a click operation on the sheet name 42 in the display area 41.

  In the case of a spreadsheet file displayed on the display screen 40 as described above, in this embodiment, the sheet name 42 arranged in the display area 41 is the extraction target. Data associated with the data (sheet name) is sheet data. Thus, in the present embodiment, a desired sheet can be selectively displayed by a click operation on the character string 34.

  In tables and graphs, the title is often written. The title is usually arranged on the upper or lower side of an image such as a table or a graph. The image orientation is usually selectable. Therefore, in consideration of the orientation of the image, the title is often arranged on either the top, bottom, left or right side of the sheet. For this reason, the character string located at the end of either the top, bottom, left, or right side of the sheet may be regarded as a title and may be extracted. The semantic structure of the character string may be analyzed, and the analysis result may be reflected in the title specification.

  3B in FIG. 3B represents a display image of data stored in the document file. The data is data that can be arbitrarily input and edited by the user, and the document file is created to store the data.

  A document stored as data in a document file usually has a patterned document structure. A document is usually divided into several items, and sentences relating to the items are usually described for each item. In each item, a sentence (hereinafter referred to as “heading”) representing the contents of the item is usually written at the head. Therefore, in the case of a document file, in this embodiment, a sentence (character string) that is regarded as a headline is extracted from data, and a sentence from the extracted heading to the next extracted heading is handled as one item document. I am doing so. Thereby, the data associated with the extracted heading is data other than the heading of the same item.

  46 in FIG. 3B is a sentence (character string) extracted as a headline. A region 47 where the heading 46 is arranged at the head is a portion regarded as the document range of the item of the heading 46. In the present embodiment, the document is extracted in such a way as to pay attention to items, and the range of data associated with the data is specified.

  Each headline 47 shown in FIG. 3B is preceded by “●”. In each item, a symbol (hereinafter referred to as “heading symbol”) that makes it easy to recognize the beginning of the item is usually arranged at the head. The symbol is usually the same type for items in the same hierarchy. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the heading 46 is extracted in a form that focuses on the heading symbol. Accordingly, “●” indicates that the heading symbol used for extraction of the heading 46 is “●”. Other heading symbols include “•”, “▼”, “▽”, “△”, “▲”, “◯”, numbers (including round numbers, numbers with parentheses, etc.), and the like.

  Here, taking a spreadsheet file and a document file as an example, the data extracted from the file and the range of data associated with the data have been described. However, the data extraction method and the data association method are described above. It is not limited to such a thing. The data extraction method and the data association method may be variously modified according to the type of file, conditions (logical structure, etc.) required for data stored in the file, and the like.

Returning to the description of FIG.
Each character string 34 arranged in the pop-up 33 is a heading 46 extracted from, for example, a document file. Each character string 34 in the pop-up 33 is displayed in a different state from the other character strings 34 by the movement of the mouse cursor 32. Hereinafter, displaying in a state different from the other character strings 34 is expressed as “highlighted display”.

  When the user performs a left click operation in a state where any one of the character strings 34 is highlighted, as shown in FIG. 2, the character string 34 and data associated therewith are displayed. In the present embodiment, the range of data associated with each character string 34 is specified by extracting the character string 34 (heading 46). Depending on the specification, for each character string 34 (heading 46), the specified range of data itself is stored, or information representing the range is stored. For this reason, in the present embodiment, the character string 34 and data associated therewith are displayed as data of the new file 35. Here, it is assumed that the data in the specified range is stored. “Memo_display.txt” written in the vicinity of the file 35 represents a file name automatically given to the file 35. The file 35 can be saved in an arbitrary storage location in the same manner as a normal file. You can also edit the data.

  Due to the increased capacity of the storage device, the data processing device can handle very large files. The larger the size, the longer it takes to open the file. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the left click operation on the character string 34 is regarded as the user wants to confirm the contents of the data related to the character string 34, and the previously stored data is displayed as the separate file 35. In this way, the contents can be confirmed more quickly.

  The heading 46 displayed as the character string 34 is not always appropriate. Therefore, in this embodiment, the heading symbol used for extracting the heading 46 is changed so that the user can instruct re-extraction of the heading 46. The re-extraction instruction is performed by a right-click operation with the mouse cursor 32 moved in the pop-up 33.

  When the user performs such a right-click operation, as shown in FIG. 2, the character string 34 arranged in the pop-up 33 is replaced with another character string 34 ′ according to the extraction result of the heading 46. For this reason, the user can confirm the contents of the file from the character string 34 replaced in the pop-up 33 by a right click operation.

  When the icon 31 is left-clicked (double-clicked here) with the pop-up 33 displayed, in this embodiment, the file represented by the icon 31 is opened. The displayed popup 33 is erased by a left click operation to a place other than the popup 33 and the icon 31. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, only one pop-up 33 is displayed, and deterioration of visibility due to displaying a plurality of pop-ups 33 is avoided. By using only one pop-up 33, the user can easily confirm the character string 34 extracted and displayed from the designated icon 31 (file).

  Both the heading 46 and the sheet name 42 arranged as the character string 34 in the pop-up 33 are data that must be determined for each file by the user. The contents are usually specific to the file. For this reason, the character string 34 arranged in the pop-up 33 is useful information for the user to specify the contents of the file. Thus, by displaying such a character string 34, the user can more easily specify the contents of the file. As a result, the user can more easily select a file whose contents are to be confirmed or a file to be opened. As described above, since the user is supported so that a desired file can be selected more easily, the user can check the contents of the file or edit the file more efficiently.

  Unlike the property data, the data displayed as the character string 34 must be input. This means that it is not necessary for the user to perform a special data input operation so that the contents of the file can be specified more easily. Since it is not necessary to perform a troublesome data input operation that is not necessarily performed, high convenience for the user is also realized.

  In FIG. 2, it is assumed that the user moves the mouse cursor 32. However, in the data processing apparatus, the user can usually move a cursor (not shown). The icon 31 to which the cursor has moved is selected and highlighted. Therefore, the pop-up 33 may be displayed when the icon 31 is selected. Here, in order to facilitate understanding, only the mouse cursor 32 is assumed as the cursor.

  The data processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment supports the user so that a desired file can be selected more easily as described above. Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the data processing apparatus main body 2 that realizes such support will be described in detail.

  The operation unit 3 outputs operation information representing the content of the operation performed by the user. The input unit 21 inputs the operation information and outputs it to the control unit 22. The control unit 22 analyzes the operation information input from the input unit 21, specifies an instruction or data input given by the user via the operation unit 3, and controls the whole according to the specification result.

  The storage unit 24 is a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk device or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 24 stores a plurality of files 24a. The access unit 25 accesses the storage unit 24 and writes data to the storage unit 24 or reads data from the storage unit 24.

  The display control unit 23 creates a screen (image data) to be displayed on the display unit 4 in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 22, and outputs the created screen to the display unit 4. An icon 31, a mouse cursor 32, a pop-up 33, a screen on which data of the file 24a are arranged, and the like as shown in FIG. 2 are displayed by processing of the display control unit 23.

  The extraction unit 26 extracts data (such as a sheet name 42 or a heading 46) to be displayed as the character string 34 from the file 24a designated by the mouse cursor 32. Further, the extraction unit 26 uses the extraction result to specify and extract data in a range corresponding to the extracted data for each extracted data.

  When the control unit 22 outputs the screen on which the icon 31 is arranged to the display control unit 23, the control unit 22 analyzes the operation information from the input unit 21 and monitors the movement of the mouse cursor 32 onto the icon 31. When it is determined by the monitoring that the mouse cursor 32 has moved over the icon 31, the control unit 22 instructs the access unit 25 to read the file 24a represented by the icon 31. The file 24 a read by the access unit 25 according to the instruction is output to the extraction unit 26. Thereby, the extraction unit 26 can perform the data extraction as described above in a timely manner.

  In addition to the plurality of files 24a, the storage unit 46 stores a database (DB) 24b in which a method for extracting data to be the character string 34 is defined for each type of the file 24a, and an extraction management file 24c. The DB 24b is for enabling the data extraction described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the range of data associated with the extracted data, and the like. Information for specifying data to be extracted is stored for each type of file 24a.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the user can instruct re-extraction of the heading 46. The left click operation on the character string 34 arranged in the pop-up 33 can be regarded as a result of the user considering the heading 46 extracted as the character string 34 as appropriate. This is because there is a high possibility that the user thought to confirm the contents from the displayed character string 34. Therefore, in the present embodiment, for each file 24a, the heading symbol used to extract the character string 34 on which the user performed the left click operation, and the number of times the left click operation has been performed (count value) are stored. I am doing so. The extraction management file 24c is used for storage.

  In the present embodiment, the number of times saved for each heading symbol is reflected in the extraction of the heading 46 when the pop-up 33 is displayed next time. Thereby, for example, the extraction of the first heading 46 is performed using the heading symbol having the largest number of times. In this way, in the present embodiment, the past history is reflected in the extraction of the heading 46, so that the heading 46 considered to be more desirable for the user is preferentially extracted.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining data stored in the extraction management file. The extraction management file 24c shown in FIG. 4 is a case where it is assumed that a character string that can be regarded as a title in the sheet can be extracted from the spreadsheet file in addition to the sheet name 42.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the data of each file 24a is divided and stored according to the type of the file 24a. The data of each file 24a includes a file name, an extraction location, and a count value.

  The file name is information that can identify the corresponding file 24a. Usually, in addition to the file name, there is a path indicating the storage location where the file 24a with the file name is stored. In FIG. 4, only the file name is shown.

  The extraction location is data representing a location where data to be displayed as the character string 34 is to be extracted. In the document file, the heading 46 is a character string in which a heading symbol is arranged at the head. For this reason, in the document file, a heading symbol is written as the extraction location. In the spreadsheet file, the sheet name and the inside of the sheet are described as extraction locations. In the sheet, a character string that can be regarded as a title in the sheet is extracted.

  The count value is the number of times that the character string 34 is left-clicked when data extracted from the extraction location is displayed as the character string 34. Each of A to I shown in FIG. 4 represents an integer of 0 or more. A to I are integers of 0 or more because the initial value of the count value is 0, and the count value is incremented each time a left click operation is performed.

  When displaying the icon 31 representing the file 24a on the display unit 4, the control unit 22 instructs the access unit 25 to read the DB 24b and the extraction management file 24c from the storage unit 24. Thereby, the extraction unit 26 inputs the DB 24b and the extraction management file 24c from the access unit 25, and uses the DB 24b and the extraction management file 24c for extracting data from the file 24a. Thereby, the extraction unit 26 can perform data extraction reflecting the history in addition to data extraction according to a predetermined rule.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer to which the present embodiment can be applied. Here, a configuration example of a computer that can be used as the data processing apparatus 1 will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

  The computer shown in FIG. 6 includes a CPU 61, a memory 62, an input device 63, an output device 64, an external storage device 65, a medium drive device 66, and a network connection device 67, which are connected to each other via a bus 68. It has become. The configuration shown in the figure is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  The CPU 61 controls the entire computer. Although only one is shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of CPUs 61 may be mounted.

  The memory 62 is a semiconductor memory such as a RAM that temporarily stores a program or data stored in the external storage device 65 (or portable recording medium 69) during program execution, data update, or the like. The CPU 61 performs overall control by reading the program into the memory 62 and executing it.

  The input device 63 is, for example, an operation device that is operated by an operator such as a keyboard and a mouse, that is, a device that enables connection to the operation unit 3 of FIG. A user operation on the connected operation device is detected, and the detection result is notified to the CPU 61.

  The output device 64 is a display control device connected to, for example, a display device. In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the display unit 3 is connected. The external storage device 65 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk device. It is mainly used for saving various files 24a (data) and programs. The programs include an OS, a file manager, and a plurality of application programs (hereinafter abbreviated as “applications”) that can open the file 24a.

  The medium driving device 66 accesses a portable recording medium 69 such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk. The network connection device 67 enables communication with an external device via a communication network, for example.

  A data processing apparatus 1 having a functional configuration shown in FIG. 1 is realized, for example, by causing a CPU 61 to execute a file manager having a data extraction function as described above under the control of the OS. The data processing apparatus 1 uses an application that can open a document file (hereinafter “document software”), an application that can open a spreadsheet file (hereinafter “spreadsheet software”), and the like as the type of the file 24a. It is assumed that it is feasible. This is because in order to properly recognize the data stored in the file 24a, a program capable of opening the data of the file 24a is required. When it is assumed that document software, spreadsheet software, and the like are stored in the external storage device 65 together with the file manager and OS, each component of the data processing device main body 2 shown in FIG. It corresponds to 6 constituent elements or is realized by a combination of constituent elements. Document software, spreadsheet software, file manager, and the like may be recorded in the recording medium 69 or may be acquired from an external device via the network connection device 67. Therefore, the storage device or recording medium in which they are stored is not particularly limited.

  Similarly, the storage device or recording medium in which the file 24a is stored is not particularly limited. The file 24a may be accessible by an external device that can transmit and receive data via a communication network.

  The input unit 21 corresponds to the input device 63. The control unit 22 is realized by the CPU 61, the memory 62, the external storage device 65, and the bus 68. The display control unit 23 is realized by the CPU 61, the memory 62, the output device 64, the external storage device 65, and the bus 68. The access unit 25 and the storage unit 24 correspond to the external storage device 65. The extraction unit 26 is realized by the CPU 61, the memory 62, the external storage device 65, and the bus 68.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the data processing apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of the pop-up display process shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B. This pop-up display process is a process executed to display the pop-up 33. Therefore, this pop-up display process is executed when the user moves the mouse cursor 32 over any icon 31 when the icon 31 is displayed and the pop-up 33 is not displayed. Is done. Here, it is assumed that only the sheet name 42 is extracted from the spreadsheet file for displaying the character string 34.

  This pop-up display process itself is realized by executing a file manager under the control of the OS. For this reason, it is assumed here that the pop-up display process is executed by the CPU 61.

  First, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the file 24a represented by the icon 31 to which the user has moved the mouse cursor 32 is a spreadsheet file (S1). If the application that opens the file 24a is spreadsheet software, the determination in S1 is yes. Thereby, the CPU 61 refers to the sheet name 42 in the file 24a and extracts the sheet name (S2). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S15. On the other hand, if the application that opens the file is not spreadsheet software, the determination in S1 is no and the process proceeds to S3.

  In S3, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the file 24a represented by the icon 31 to which the user has moved the mouse cursor 32 is a document file. If the application that opens the file 24a is not document software, the determination in S3 is no, and the process proceeds to S12. On the other hand, if the application that opens the file 24a is document software, the determination in S3 is yes and the process proceeds to S4.

  In S4, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the document file pop-up 33 is displayed for the first time (S4). If it is the first time, the determination in S4 is yes and the process proceeds to S5. If it is not the first time, the determination in S4 is no, and the process proceeds to S13.

  Here, the determination as to whether or not it is the first time is performed with reference to data corresponding to this document file in the extraction management file 24c. More specifically, the determination is made based on whether or not there is a count value that is 1 or more among the count values stored as data of this document file. If there is no count value that is 1 or more, that is, if all count values are 0, it is regarded as the first time.

  In S5, the CPU 61 refers to the list of heading symbols in the DB 24b. Next, the CPU 61 selects one of the heading symbols according to the order stored in the DB 24b (S6). Thereafter, the CPU 61 searches the data read from the document file using the selected heading symbol, and extracts the corresponding heading 46 (S7). The heading symbol is located at the head of the heading 46, and the heading symbol located at the head of the heading 46 is likely to exist at or near the left end. Therefore, the search using the heading symbol is limited to a range in which the heading symbol is assumed (for example, a range from the left end to the second column from the left end to the right).

  In the present embodiment, the largest number of extracted data (character strings) is handled as the heading 46. From this, the CPU 61 next determines whether or not the number of extracted data is larger than the number of data extracted so far, so that the number of extracted data is the number of data extracted so far. If there are more, the current search result is stored (S8). If the number of extracted data is not larger than the number of data extracted so far, the current search result is not saved.

  After performing the storage as described above, the CPU 61 determines whether or not a search has been performed for all of the heading symbols stored in the DB 24b (S9). If there is a heading symbol that is not used for data extraction, the determination in S9 is no, and the CPU 61 selects the heading symbol used for the next search in S10, and then returns to S7. Thereby, the CPU 61 performs a search using all the heading symbols stored in the DB 24b. On the other hand, if there is no heading symbol that is not used for data extraction, the determination in S9 is yes, and then the CPU 61 determines the heading symbol used for searching for the heading 46 (S11). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S15. The heading symbol determined here is the heading symbol having the largest amount of data to be extracted as described above.

  In S13 where the determination in S4 is “no” and the process proceeds to S13, the CPU 61 checks the count value stored as data of this document file in the extraction management file 24c, and specifies the heading symbol having the largest count value. . Next, the CPU 61 determines the specified heading symbol as a heading symbol used for searching for the heading 46 (S14). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S15.

  In S12 in which the determination in S3 is no and the process proceeds to S12, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the file 24a represented by the icon 31 to which the user has moved the mouse cursor 32 is another openable file. If there is an application that can open the file 24a, the determination in S12 is yes, and the process proceeds to S4. On the other hand, if there is no application that can open the file, the determination in S12 is no, and the pop-up display process ends here. Accordingly, even if the user moves the mouse cursor 32 over the icon 31 of the file 24a that cannot be opened, the pop-up 33 is not displayed.

  When the user moves the mouse cursor 32 on the icon 31 of the file 24a that can be opened, the data of the file 24a is read out under the control of the OS based on the determination of yes in S1 and S3. The data of the file 24a is read using an application that can open the file 24a. Therefore, the determination of yes in S1 and S3 is based on the presence of an application that can open the file 24a.

  The extraction management file 24c is referred to in S4. Therefore, the registration of the data of the file 24a to the extraction management file 24c may be performed when it is determined by reference in S4 that the data of the file 24a is not stored in the extraction management file 24c. The data of the spreadsheet file may be stored in the extraction management file 24c as needed by referring to the extraction management file 24c based on the determination of yes in S1.

  In S15, the CPU 61 extracts data to be the character string 34 to be arranged in the pop-up 33, specifies a range of data associated with the data, and extracts data in that range. Next, the CPU 61 displays a pop-up 33 in which the extracted data is arranged as the character string 34 in the vicinity of the icon 31 (S16).

  When the process proceeds from S11 and S22 described later to S15, the data to be the character string 34 has been extracted. From this, in S15 in that case, the CPU 61 specifies the range of data associated with the extracted data, and extracts the data in the specified range. When the process proceeds from S14 to S15, data to be the character string 34 is not extracted. Therefore, in S15 in that case, the CPU 61 also extracts data using the determined heading symbol.

  The CPU 61 after displaying the pop-up 33 determines whether or not the user left-clicks the character string 34 in the pop-up 33. If the user moves the mouse cursor 32 over any of the character strings 34 and performs a left click operation, the determination in S17 is yes. As a result, the CPU 61 increments the count value of the heading symbol located at the head of the character string 34 (S18), and creates a new file 35 in which the character string 34 and the data in the range associated therewith are copied and pasted. Are displayed (S19). By displaying such a new file 35, all the displayed icons 31 including the pop-up 33 are deleted. Therefore, the pop-up display process ends here. The new file 35 can be saved by designating an arbitrary storage location as described above.

  If the user does not perform a left click operation on any of the character strings 34, the determination in S17 is no and the process proceeds to S20. In S20, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the user has performed a right click operation in the pop-up 33. When the user performs a right click operation with the mouse cursor 32 moved in the pop-up 33, the determination in S20 is yes. Thereby, the CPU 61 selects one of the heading symbols according to the order stored in the DB 24b (S21), searches the data using the selected heading symbol, and extracts the corresponding heading 46 ( S22). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S15.

  If the user does not perform a right click operation with the mouse cursor 32 moved in the pop-up 33, the determination in S20 is no and the process proceeds to S23. In S <b> 23, the CPU 61 determines whether the user has performed a left click operation at a place other than the pop-up 33. When the user performs a left click operation with the mouse cursor 32 moved to a place other than the pop-up 33, the determination in S23 is yes and the process proceeds to S24. If the user does not perform the left click operation with the mouse cursor 32 moved to a location other than the pop-up 33, the determination in S23 is no, and it is determined that the operation that causes the pop-up 33 to be deleted is not performed. Return. As a result, the CPU 61 maintains a state in which the user can respond to the operation.

  In practice, the pop-up 33 is deleted by ending the file manager that displays the icon 31. Even when the storage location where the file 24a is displayed is changed to a different storage location, the pop-up 33 being displayed is deleted. However, here, in order to avoid confusion and facilitate understanding, processing executed in such a situation is omitted. For example, when the file manager is terminated, the extraction management file 24c is stored in, for example, the external storage device 65 under the control of the file manager.

  In S24, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the user left-clicks the icon 31 (left double-click operation). If the user performs a left double-click operation with the mouse cursor 32 moved over the icon 31 on which the pop-up 33 is displayed, the determination in S25 is yes, and the CPU 61 opens the file 24a represented by the icon 31, The pop-up 33 is deleted (S25). Thereafter, the pop-up display process ends. On the other hand, when the user moves the mouse cursor 32 to a place other than the icon 31 and performs a left click operation or the like, the determination in S24 is no and the CPU 61 deletes the pop-up 33 (S26). Thereafter, the pop-up display process ends.

  In the present embodiment, the data extracted from the file 24a is displayed as a character string 34 in the pop-up 33. However, a fixed display area for displaying the character string 34 is provided, and the data 34 is displayed in the display area. You may make it let it. A plurality of display areas may be provided, and the character strings 34 of the files 24a for the plurality of display areas may be displayed.

  The data associated with the character string 34 is displayed as new file data by a left-click operation on the character string 34, but the associated data or a part thereof is displayed on the left of the character string 34. You may make it display in the pop-up 33 by click operation. Alternatively, by left-clicking on the character string 34, for example, the file 24a itself may be opened with the character string 34 as the head.

  In the present embodiment, the pop-up display function and the function corresponding to the operation on the pop-up 33 (including the character string 34 here) are installed in the file manager, but these functions may be installed in the OS. When these functions are installed in the OS, the functions can be used by the user when an existing application is executed. For this reason, the target for mounting these functions is not limited to the file manager.

Claims (7)

Symbol display means for displaying a symbol representing an accessible file on a display screen;
When the symbol is displayed by the symbol display means, the second data is extracted from the first data displayed by opening the file stored in the file represented by the symbol. Extraction means to
Data display means for displaying the second data extracted by the extraction means in a display area arranged on the display screen;
Comprising
The extraction unit extracts third data from the first data when a predetermined operation is performed in the display area, and the data display unit displays the third data. Characteristic data processing device. The display area is arranged in the vicinity of the symbol;
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1. The extraction means re-extracts data different from the second data displayed in the display area as the third data when the predetermined operation is performed in the display area. Do the extraction,
The data processing apparatus according to claim 2. Storage means for storing a correspondence relationship between a plurality of symbols indicating a plurality of different positions in the first data and the number of times the predetermined operation has been performed on data extracted from the position indicated by each symbol Further comprising
The extraction means extracts the second data from a position indicated by a symbol selected based on the number of times associated with each of the plurality of symbols in the first data.
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The extraction means extracts the second data from the first data, and extracts data corresponding to the second data as the third data for each second data,
When the predetermined operation is performed on the second data displayed in the display area, the data display means associates the second data with the second data on which the predetermined operation is performed. 3 data is displayed,
5. A data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: A data processing device that can access the file
A symbol representing the file is displayed on the display screen;
Extracting the second data from the first data displayed by opening the file stored in the file represented by the symbol when the symbol is displayed;
The extracted second data is displayed as data representing the contents of the file from which the second data is extracted in a display area arranged on the display screen ,
When a predetermined operation is performed in the display area, third data is extracted from the first data,
Displaying the third data;
A file selection support method characterized by the above. On the computer,
Display a symbol representing the accessible file on the display screen ,
Extracting the second data from the first data displayed by opening the file stored in the file represented by the symbol when the symbol is displayed;
Displaying the extracted second data in a display area arranged on the display screen;
When a predetermined operation is performed in the display area, third data is extracted from the first data,
Displaying the third data;
A program that executes processing.

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