JP6922662B2 - Information processing equipment and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

There are document management devices and software that manage image data read by a scanner and document data created by an application on a personal computer (PC). For example, document handling software such as DocuWorks ™ provided by the applicant and Adobe Acrobat ™ of Adobe Systems, Inc. is an example. This type of document management device is an image data file (for example, bitmap format, TIFF format, PEG format) obtained by scanning a paper document, or an application file created by various applications such as a word processor or a spreadsheet. Can be captured and managed.

The apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs a reduced image creation process and an image processing process on a document to be managed, and subsequently performs a process of adding a pin-shaped mark when there is an attached document. If there is event processing for the document with this mark, the document is edited for the attached document. If the double-click position is on the reduced image and it is not on the pinned image, the image is requested to be edited, and if it is on the pinned image, the original document is re-edited.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-5618

While the document management means is not running, documents may be added to a specific folder under the control of the document management means by another means. After such an addition, when the document management means is activated, an operation of opening a specific folder from the startup screen is usually performed in order to confirm the added document.

An object of the present invention is to enable a user to check a document added to a specific folder while the document management means is not operating without performing an operation of opening the specific folder after the document management means is activated. do.

The invention according to claim 1 is a document management means for managing a document stored in a folder group including a specific folder, and a means for adding a document to the specific folder during a non-operating period when the document management means is not operating. The document management means includes, when the document management means is started, a means for holding a setting of a folder to be opened when the document management means is started, and when the document management means is started, a document is stored in the specific folder during the non-operating period immediately before the start of the document management means. If it has been added, even if the folder indicated by the setting is a folder other than the specific folder, the document group in the specific folder is displayed in a list, and the specific folder is displayed during the non-operating period immediately before its activation. This is an information processing apparatus, characterized in that, when a document is not added to, a list of documents in the folder indicated by the above setting is displayed.

In the invention according to claim 2 , the document management means displays a list of documents in the specific folder by displaying a document added to the specific folder during the non-operating period immediately before the activation before the non-operating period. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the information processing apparatus is displayed in a display mode distinguishable from the documents in the specific folder.

The invention according to claim 3, wherein the document management means, wherein the list of documents in a particular folder, the each document has been added to the specified folder in the non-operating period, the document is immediately preceding the additional The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the folders are displayed in different display modes.

The invention according to claim 4 is a document management means for managing documents stored in a group of folders including a specific folder, and a document is added to the specific folder during a non-operating period when the document management means is not operating. A program for functioning as a means, a means for holding a setting of a folder to be opened when the document management means is started , and the document management means is in the non-operating period immediately before the start of the document management means when the document management means is started. When a document is added to the specific folder, even if the folder indicated by the setting is a folder other than the specific folder, the document group in the specific folder is displayed in a list, and the non-document group immediately before its activation is displayed. The program is characterized in that when a document is not added to the specific folder during the operation period, a list of the document group in the folder indicated by the setting is displayed.

According to the invention of claim 1 or 4 , the user confirms the document added to the specific folder while the document management means is not operating even if the operation of opening the specific folder is not performed after the document management means is activated. can.

According to the invention of claim 2 , in the list display of the document group in the specific folder opened when the document management means is activated, the newly added document can be easily distinguished from the existing document.

According to the invention of claim 3 , in the list display of the document group in the specific folder opened when the document management means is activated, it is possible to provide the information of the place where the newly added document was before the addition. can.

It is a figure which illustrates the schematic structure of the document management system to which the character recognition processing control of an embodiment is applied. It is a figure which shows the example of the document management screen provided by a document management system. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which displayed the context menu including the menu item "copy to a workspace" for the document icon. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which showed the work space after a new document is copied. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which displayed the context menu (the menu item "copy to work space" is not included) for the folder icon. It is a figure which shows the example of the error notification screen which is displayed when the operation of copying a folder to a work space is performed. It is a figure which shows the example of the inquiry screen which is displayed when the operation of copying a folder to a work space is performed. It is a figure which shows the example of the inquiry screen which is displayed when the operation of copying a folder to a workspace is performed in another example. It is a figure which shows the example of the setting screen of the folder which opens when the document management system is started. It is a figure which shows the example of the procedure of the display control at the time of starting a document management system. It is a figure which shows the example of the document management screen which is displayed when the document management system is started after the document is registered in the workspace during the termination of a document management system. It is a figure which shows the example of the document management screen which displayed the information view about a document. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which reflected the information of the copy source place of each document in the display of the icon of each document in the workspace opened on the document pane. It is a figure which shows the example of the document management screen which displayed the URL on the Internet as the place of a copy source in the information view about a document. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which groupes and displays the icon of a document according to the place of a copy source. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which displayed the context menu of the document including the menu item which opens the copy source location (folder). It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which listed the document in the work space, and the document of the folder which is the copy source of the document in the work space, respectively. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which displays the thing including the menu item "clean up" as the context menu of a workspace. It is a figure which illustrates the procedure of the work space tidying up processing by a tidying up processing part. It is a figure which shows the display example of the tidying up dialog. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which is displayed after the tidying up process. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which displayed the context menu including the document "return to a work space" including a menu item about a tidying up folder. It is a figure which illustrates the procedure of the return processing of the clean-up folder by the clean-up processing unit. It is a figure which illustrates the dialog which is displayed at the time of the return processing of a tidying up folder. It is a figure which illustrates the document management screen which includes the button which instructes the synchronization of a workspace and a cloud. It is a figure which shows that the synchronization button with the cloud side is not displayed in the state which the tidying up folder is opened in the document management screen. It is a figure which illustrates the inquiry screen displayed by the synchronization processing unit. It is a figure which illustrates the setting screen about the workspace including the setting of automatic synchronization. It is a figure which illustrates the procedure of a synchronous process. It is a figure which illustrates the batch synchronization screen. It is a figure which exemplifies the action determination table for each inconsistency state. It is a figure which shows another example of a batch synchronization screen.

<System overview>
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic configuration of a document management system 10 according to the present invention. The document management system 10 allows viewing, editing, and annotating (colored markers, sticky notes, stamps, etc.) of registered document files, such as DocuWorks (trademark) provided by the applicant and Adobe Acrobat (trademark) of Adobe Systems. It is software that provides processing functions such as (addition). This software realizes the function of the document management system 10 by being executed by a computer such as a PC (personal computer) or a server. The document management system 10 may be a personal system installed on a PC, or may be constructed as a server that provides a document handling service to a remote user.

The document management system 10 includes a document import unit 12, a document processing unit 14, a UI processing unit 16, a setting management unit 18, a cleanup processing unit 20, and a synchronization processing unit 22 as functional modules.

The document importing unit 12 is responsible for importing (that is, registering) a document (file) generated outside the document management system 10 into the document management system 10. The imported documents include files in the application-specific data format (called application files) generated by application software such as word processors and table calculations, bitmaps generated by scanners and digital cameras, TIFF, JPEG, etc. There are image files in the image data format of. Further, the document captured by the document management system 10 may include a moving image file, a multimedia file, and the like. The document file imported by the document import unit 12 is stored in one of the folders under the control of the document management system 10 (for example, a folder specified or preset by the user). The document import unit 12 imports the application file as it is as a document file, or converts it into a document file described in a specific data description language used by the document management system 10. The data description language used for conversion is PDL (page description language) or another kind of language that can describe the appearance of a document (image) such as a page description language (PDF data format is also an example). .. Document files described in this data description language include multiple types such as text, vector graphics (graphics described in vector representation), continuous gradation images (data formats such as bitmap, TIFF, and JPEG). Objects can be included.

For example, a user can drag and drop a document icon in a folder outside the document management system 10 displayed on the GUI (graphical user interface) screen of a file system (for example, Microsoft Explorer) by dragging and dropping the document management system. When dropped into the folder icon or the document pane 120 of the GUI screen (see FIG. 2) of 10, the document importing unit 12 converts the document into a document file such as PDL and stores it in the drop destination folder. Further, the user may call a virtual printer for the document management system 10 (document import unit 12 or another program having the same function) from the application and output the document handled by the application to the virtual printer. good. The virtual printer converts the document into a document file such as PDL handled in the document management system 10 and saves the document in a designated folder in the document management system 10.

The folder under the control of the document management system 10 (the work space described later is one of them) is accessed from the document management system 10, and is not expected to be accessed from the file system of the OS. In order to perform operations such as adding and deleting documents to those folders, the document management system 10 is basically started. However, the exception is the storage of documents in the work space or the like via the "copy to work space" application 24 described later, and the function of storing the documents in the work space or the like when the document management system 10 is not started. have.

The document processing unit 14 executes a process instructed by the user for the folder and the document files in the folder under the control of the document management system 10. For example, when the user instructs to view the document file, the document processing unit 14 opens the document file and displays the image of the page of the document file on the screen. In addition, the document processing unit 14 adds or deletes annotations to the opened document file in response to an instruction from the user. In addition, the document processing unit 14 has the functions of "disassembling" and "bunching" documents. The disassembly process is a process of dividing one document file into a first document file consisting of pages before the specified page and a second document file consisting of pages after the next page of the specified page. be. The bundling process is a process of bundling a plurality of document files specified by the user into one document file. The document file after bundling is a file having both the pages of the first document file before bundling and the pages of the second document file. Further, the document processing unit 14 receives an instruction from the user to create a descendant folder of the user folder 116 and its descendant folders.

The UI processing unit 16 provides a UI (user interface) screen for operating a document file, and accepts a user's operation on the screen. The UI processing unit 16 generates, for example, the document management screen 100 illustrated in FIG. 2 and displays it on the display device of the computer on which the document management system 10 is installed (the document management screen 100 will be described in detail later).

The illustrated document management screen 100 includes a folder pane 110, a document pane 120, and an operation button area 130.

The folder pane 110 is an area for displaying the tree structure of the folders under the control of the document management system 10. The root of the displayed tree is the document management system 10 itself (shown as icon 112 in FIG. 2). In the illustrated example, there are two folders, a workspace 114, a user folder 116, and a link folder, directly under the root. The workspace 114 is a folder that holds a set of documents for the work currently being performed by the user. The work space 114 will be described in more detail later. The user folder 116 is a folder used for organizing and storing a group of documents used by the user of the document management system 10. In the user folder 116, lower folders such as child folders and grandchild folders can be created hierarchically. The user creates the necessary descendant folders according to the organization system decided by himself and stores the documents in the appropriate folders. The link folder is a link to a folder outside the management of the document management system 10, and when this link folder is "opened", the descendant folders in the linked folder are displayed in the folder pane 110.

In the document pane 120, 122 groups of document file icons in the folder selected by the user in the folder pane 110 are listed and displayed. In this example, the document file icon 122 is a thumbnail image of the first page of the document file, respectively. By performing an "open" operation such as a click operation on the icon 122, the document corresponding to the icon 122 is opened, the content is displayed on the screen, and the content is edited (for example, addition, deletion, etc.). You can make changes, etc.). Further, for example, the user can instruct the bundling process of these two document files by superimposing the icon of one document file on the icon of another document file by a drag and drop operation. It is also possible to select the process to be performed on the document file from the menu on the document management screen 100 (not shown) or the context menu called by an operation such as right-clicking the mouse on the icon. The context menu is a screen in which processing options for an object (document in this case) corresponding to the menu are listed and displayed as menu items.

The operation button area 130 is an area for displaying buttons 134 to 138 indicating various operations on the folder displayed in the document pane 120 and the document (icon 122) in the folder. In the illustrated example, the operation button area 130 includes a print button for printing the selected document in the document pane 120, a button 134 for instructing copying of the document to the workspace (described later), and a temporary cleanup of the workspace (described later). A cleanup button 136 for instructing (described later), an "original location" button 138 for opening the copy source folder of the document in the work space, and the like are displayed.

Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the setting management unit 18 accepts the input of various setting items of the document management system 10 and holds the values of the input setting items. As an example of the setting items managed by the setting management unit 18, the folder displayed in the document pane 120 of the document management screen 100 when the document management system 10 is started, the setting for synchronizing the workspace with the corresponding folder on the cloud system, and the like are set. be.

The cleanup processing unit 20 temporarily cleans up the document group in the work space. The function of the cleanup processing unit 20 will be described in detail later.

The synchronization processing unit 22 executes a process for synchronizing the workspace and the corresponding folder on the cloud system. This process will be described in detail later.

The outline of the document management system 10 has been described above. Next, various features of this system will be described.

<Work space>
As described above, the document management system 10 prepares a work space 114, which is a folder for a group of documents used for the work that the user is currently working on. The work space is a metaphor of the user's workplace (for example, on a desk), and the purpose is to be able to see at a glance the entire work currently being worked on, that is, to list the work. This is in contrast to the hierarchical structure consisting of the user folder 116 and its descendant folders for the purpose of organizing the document group.

Only documents (files) are stored in the work space 114 in order to ensure a list of work. That is, the workspace 114 does not include a hierarchical structure consisting of descendant folders. If the work space 114 has a hierarchical structure of folders inside, all the documents used for the current work cannot be arranged in a list on one document pane 120. In this case, in order to grasp the entire work space 114, it is necessary to move between layers. On the other hand, since the workspace 114 has a flat structure consisting of only documents, it is not necessary to go back and forth between layers, and icons (thumbnails, etc.) of all documents can be listed on the document pane 120.

The work space 114 is used as a temporary work place, and documents are stored in a hierarchical folder group in the user folder 116.

<Registration of documents in the workspace>
Registration (save) of a document in the work space 114 is realized by performing a "copy to work space 114" operation for a document in an existing folder.

In the document management screen 100 illustrated in FIG. 3, a list of document icons 122 in a folder (folder name “ABC project”) in the user folder 116 of the document management system 10 is displayed on the document pane 120. Then, the context menu 124 for the document is called by a specific operation such as right-clicking the mouse on a certain document (name "△△ proposal"). In this context menu 124, general operations such as "Open" (open a document to display its contents), "Cut", "Copy" 128, "Delete", "Rename", "Print", etc. In addition to the items, the operation item "Copy to workspace" 126 is included. When the user instructs the execution of "copy to work space" 126 by a click operation or the like, the document processing unit 14 makes a copy of the document (file) and saves the copy in the work space 114. When the workspace 114 is opened after this operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the icons of the documents in the workspace 114 are listed in the document pane 120.

If the conventional general "copy" 128 operation item is selected, the document is only stored in the clipboard (temporary storage area of the copied (or cut) data prepared by the OS). Is. Therefore, in order to copy the document to the workspace 114, after executing the "copy" 128, an operation of "pasting" a copy of the document on the clipboard to the workspace 114 is performed. Is required. As described above, when the conventional operation item "copy" 128 is used, the user needs to perform at least two operations in total, that is, the copy operation and the paste operation.

On the other hand, in the case of the operation item "copy to work space" 126, the target document can be copied into the work space 114 with one touch, that is, with only one operation of selecting the operation item.

Further, the same operation as the "copy to work space" 126 can also be executed by selecting the document in the document pane 120 and then pressing the "copy to work space" button 134 in the operation button area 130.

Further, for each of the data formats that can be imported into the document management system 10, a menu item "copy to workspace" may be added to the context menu corresponding to the data format managed by the OS. This menu item is associated with the "copy to workspace" application 24 installed on the same computer as the document management system 10. This application 24 can be read even when the document management system 10 is not started. When the user calls the context menu from the document icon displayed on the GUI screen of the OS file system and selects and executes the item "Copy to workspace" in the menu, the OS "Copy to workspace" application. Start 24 and pass the pathname of the document. The launched "copy to workspace" application 24 makes a copy of the document indicated by the pathname and saves it in the workspace. If the data format of the document is different from the data format (PDL format, etc.) inside the document management system 10, the data format of the copy may be changed to the internal data format and then saved in the workspace. .. By doing so, even for a document that is not under the control of the document management system 10 (that is, a document in a folder that does not belong to the folder tree rooted in the document management system 10), the document can be processed by one operation as described above. Can be copied to the workspace.

Further, the document displayed by the application that generates or edits the document such as a word processor may be registered in the workspace from the UI of the application. For example, in the UI of the print instruction of the application, a "document management system workspace" is registered as a print destination option, and the option is the same as the "copy to workspace" application 24. It suffices to associate the virtual printer that performs the processing of. When the user wants to register the document displayed in the application such as the word processor in the workspace, the user calls the print instruction screen of this application, selects "document management system workspace" as the print destination, and instructs the print execution. do it.

Further, in the above example, the UIs such as the context menu and the copy button used when registering the document in the workspace are illustrated, but the document is documented with the same UI for the folders other than the workspace in the document management system 10. May be able to be registered. In this case, the setting management unit 18 is set or changed to the copy destination folder corresponding to the operation item "copy to work space" 126 of the context menu and the "copy to work space" button 134 in the operation button area 130. You may be able to do it. In this case, the character string of "work space" in the operation item "copy to work space" 126 of the context menu may be changed to the name of the set copy destination folder.

In the above, an example of copying a document in a folder outside the workspace to the inside of the workspace has been shown, but other than copying, for example, by a registration method such as moving (in this case, the document is deleted from the original folder). , You may register the document in the workspace.

<Mechanism for not having a hierarchical folder structure in the workspace>
As mentioned above, the workspace does not have a hierarchical structure. The mechanism for maintaining a workspace that does not have a hierarchical structure will be described below.

For example, when a folder created in the file system used by the operating system (OS) is used as the work space 114, the document processing unit 14 sets the work space 114 in order to prevent the work space 114 from having a hierarchical structure. On the other hand, the user does not accept the instruction to create the descendant folder. For example, the menu item for instructing to create a new folder is not displayed on the context menu called by a specific operation (for example, right-clicking of the mouse) for the icon of the workspace 114 in the folder pane 110. Also, when a workspace is open in the document pane 120, the item for creating a new folder is not displayed in the context menu called on the workspace (the part other than the document icon).

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the item "copy to workspace" is not included in the context menu 140 called from the folder in the folder pane 110 by an operation such as right-clicking the mouse. As a result, the folder is not copied to the workspace with one-touch operation. This context menu 140 contains an item of "copy" 142, but when that item is selected by the user, what is executed is to copy that folder (which may contain documents and descendants folders inside) to the clipboard. It is a process to do. Even if the folder copied to the clipboard is pasted into the workspace, the document processing unit 14 detects that the object to be pasted into the workspace is a folder, which is an example. Then, the paste is prohibited. At this time, the document processing unit 14 displays the error notification screen 200 illustrated in FIG. 6 via the UI processing unit 16. On the error notification screen 200, an error message 202 indicating that the folder cannot be copied to the workspace is displayed.

Similarly, for folders that are not under the control of the document management system 10, the context menu does not include a menu item that calls the "copy to workspace" application 24. Further, even if an attempt is made to copy such a folder to the work space via the clipboard, the document processing unit 14 detects that the folder is about to be copied and prohibits the copying.

Further, even if an attempt is made to copy or move a folder outside the workspace into the workspace opened in the document pane 120 by a drag and drop operation, the document processing unit 14 that manages the workspace moves it. proclaim. That is, when the document processing unit 14 detects that the object to be saved in the work space is a folder by the operation, the document processing unit 14 prohibits the saving and displays, for example, the above-mentioned error notification screen 200 (FIG. 6) on the screen. ..

In the above, by prohibiting copying of folders to the workspace, the hierarchical structure is not brought into the workspace. As another example, when the user performs an operation of copying a folder to the workspace, the document processing unit 14 may take out the document inside the folder and copy it to the workspace. Here, the documents to be copied to the workspace may be limited to those directly contained in the folder, or may be all the documents contained in the folder and its descendants' folders. In either case, the folder itself selected for copying and the folders descended from that folder are not copied to the workspace, only documents in the workspace.

When the document processing unit 14 receives an operation of copying a folder to a workspace from a user, as illustrated in FIG. 7, an inquiry screen displaying a message 212 asking whether to copy only the documents (files) in the folder. 210 may be displayed via the UI processing unit 16. When the user presses the OK button in the inquiry screen 210, the document processing unit 14 makes a copy of each document in the folder, converts the copy into the data format of the document management system 10, and then saves the copy in the workspace. (Paste). When the user presses the cancel button, the document processing unit 14 cancels the process of copying the folder to the workspace.

Also, when the user performs an operation to copy a folder to the workspace, the error notification screen 200 is displayed without executing the copy ("folder copy prohibited"), or only the documents in the folder are copied. ("Copy the document in the folder") may be set by the user for the setting management unit 18. In the case of copying only the documents in the folder, the setting management unit 18 determines whether to copy only the documents directly contained in the folder or all the documents contained in the folder and its descendants. It may be possible to set to. In addition, when the above-mentioned "copy document in folder" is set in the setting management unit 18, the item "copy to work space" is displayed in the context menu opened for the folder, and the above-mentioned "copy folder" is displayed. When "Prohibit" is set, the display of the context menu may be controlled so that the item "Copy to workspace" is not displayed in the context menu.

Further, the document processing unit 14 takes out a group of documents in the folder according to a user's instruction to copy the folder to the work space, and displays the documents in the document pane 120 of the document management screen 100 when the documents are copied to the work space. A space may be used to indicate that the copied documents are derived from the same folder. An example of this display is shown in FIG. The example of FIG. 8 is an example in which the purchase order folder 118 is copied to the workspace in which the document A is originally saved. In the document pane 120, the icons of the documents B, C, and D newly added to the workspace are emphasized (that is, in a more conspicuous display mode) than the icons of the originally existing document A. Is emphasized) is displayed. In addition, the icons of the documents B, C, and D have a common display mode (for example, the outlines have the same color), which means that the three documents are copied from the same folder. There is. In addition, the icons of these three documents are accompanied by a file name representing the path name of the document from the purchase order folder. In the illustrated example, for example, the document B is a file directly included in the purchase order folder, while the document D is a file included in the folder named "201710" directly under the purchase order folder. Further, in the display of FIG. 8, the icon of the document D is displayed below the icons of the documents B and C, indicating that the document D belongs to a folder lower than the documents B and C. ..

<Display at startup>
Next, the display of the document management screen 100 displayed when the document management system 10 is started will be described.

The setting management unit 18 can set a folder to be opened in the document pane 120 of the document management screen 100 immediately after the startup. FIG. 9 illustrates a setting screen 300 that accepts the setting of the folder to be opened at the time of startup. In this example, in the option column 302, the folder to be opened at startup can be selected from the three option columns 302 of the user folder, the folder opened when the document management system 10 was last closed, and the workspace. The document management system 10 determines a folder to be opened in the document pane 120 at startup according to the setting in a normal case except for the exception case described below.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned exception case is a case where a document is registered in the workspace while the document management system 10 is being terminated (that is, a period during which the document management system 10 is in a non-operating state). As described above, in the present embodiment, even when the document management system 10 is terminated, the "copy to workspace" application 24 can be called from the context menu of the document on the UI of the file system, or a document such as a word processor can be called. Documents can be registered in the workspace by issuing print instructions from the generate / edit application to a virtual printer whose workspace is the print destination. As described above, when a document is registered in the workspace while the document management system 10 is finished, it is highly possible that the user has an intention to work with the document on the workspace. However, if the setting of the folder to be opened at startup is a folder other than the workspace, the folder opened immediately after the document management system 10 is started is not the workspace. Therefore, in order to confirm the newly registered document in the workspace, it is necessary to perform the operation of opening the workspace.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when a document is registered in the workspace while the document management system 10 is finished (that is, the document management system 10 is not running, that is, the period during which the document management system 10 is not operating), the document is opened at startup. A workspace is opened in the document pane 120 when the document management system 10 is started regardless of the folder setting. An example of the display control procedure at the time of activation is shown in FIG.

In the procedure of FIG. 10, when the document management system 10 is started, the UI processing unit 16 first checks for the presence or absence of documents registered in the workspace after the previous termination of the document management system 10 (S10). The investigation in S10 is performed on, for example, a program (for example, a "copy to workspace" application 24 and a virtual printer) in which the UI processing unit 16 has a function of registering a document in the workspace while the document management system 10 is terminated. , By inquiring whether the document was registered during the period of completion. The program (that is, a virtual processing device realized by executing the program on a computer) records a log including information on the time when the document is registered in the workspace, and the UI processing unit 16 Returns the time when the document was last registered in the workspace in response to the inquiry from. The UI processing unit 16 is a document management system if the time returned from the program is between the previous end time of the document management system 10 (which is recorded by the document management system 10) and the current time. It is determined that there was a document registered in the workspace during the completion of 10. Alternatively, conversely, the UI processing unit 16 may send an inquiry including the previous end time of the document management system 10 to the program, and respond whether or not the program has registered the document after the end time. Further, instead of making an inquiry to the application, the UI processing unit 16 may make the determination by referring to the log recorded by the program. Alternatively, when the program stores (copies, etc.) the document in the workspace, the flag is set to a value indicating "stored", and the UI processing unit 16 refers to the flag when the document management system 10 is started. The document management system 10 may determine whether or not the document is stored in the non-operating workspace and reset the flag. As yet another example, the document management system 10 stores a list of documents in the workspace at the time of the previous termination, and collates this list with the documents in the workspace at the time of starting this time. , You may determine if there is a newly added document in the workspace during the end.

When it is determined in the investigation of S10 that there is a document added to the workspace during the termination of the document management system 10 (S12), the UI processing unit 16 displays the document group in the workspace in the document pane 120. The management screen 100 is displayed (S14). On the other hand, if it is determined in S12 that there is no document added to the workspace during the termination of the document management system 10, the UI processing unit 16 is a folder corresponding to the setting of "folder to be opened at startup" in the setting management unit 18. Is displayed in the document management screen 100 opened in the document pane 120 (S16).

FIG. 11 illustrates a document management screen 100 in which a group of documents in the work space is displayed in the document pane 120 displayed by the process of S14 when the document management system 10 is started. In this example, a workspace in which only a document named "△△ Proposal" existed at the time of the previous termination of the document management system 10 is newly referred to as “△△ additional material” during the termination period. The document management screen 100 is displayed when the document management system 10 is started after the document with the name is registered. In this example, the icon of the newly registered document “△△ additional material” in the document pane 120 is displayed in a display mode different from the icon of the existing document “△△ proposal”. In particular, the newly registered document icon is displayed in a more conspicuous display mode than the existing document icon.

Further, as in the document management screen 100 of FIG. 8 described above, the document management screen 100 that opens at startup reflects the information of the copy source folder of each document registered in the workspace while the document management system 10 is finished. You may. That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the icon of each document newly registered in the workspace is accompanied by a file name including the path information of the document from which the document is copied. In addition, the hierarchy of the folders to which the newly registered documents belong is expressed in the order from the top of the icons of each document.

In the procedure of FIG. 10, when a document is registered in the work space during the termination of the document management system 10, the work space is always opened on the document management screen 100 when the document management system 10 is started after that. But this is just one example. Instead, the user decides whether to set the folder opened on the document management screen 100 at startup of the document management system 10 after the document is registered in the workspace during termination as the workspace or to follow the setting of the folder opened at startup. It may be set in the setting management unit 18.

In the above example, the operation at the time of starting the document management system 10 when there is a document registered in the workspace while the document management system 10 is finished has been described, but the same operation is performed for folders other than the workspace. May be done. In this case, the user sets the target folder for this operation in the setting management unit 18. When the document management system 10 finds that a document has been added to the folder during its termination at startup, the document management system 10 opens the folder in the document pane 120 of the document management screen 100 to be displayed.

<Displaying the original location of the document in the workspace>
The work space is, for example, a virtual work space in which documents stored in a group of folders having a hierarchical structure for organizing are copied and the copied documents are used for work. In performing the work, the user may need information on the location (folder) of the copy source of the document in the workspace. For example, in the work of correcting the document to be corrected while comparing it with the model document, the model document of this time is selected from the folder containing the model document group, and the document of this time is selected from the folder containing the document to be corrected. Consider the case of copying to a workspace. In this case, when the user determines whether each document in the workspace is a model document or a document to be corrected, it is useful to know the information of the copy source location of each document. You may also need to refer to other documents in the folder from which you copied the documents in your workspace.

Therefore, the document management system 10 adds the information of the storage location of the copy source document as an attribute to the document copied to the workspace. That is, a processing unit having a function of copying a document to a workspace (for example, a document processing unit 14 that registers a document in the workspace while the document management system 10 is operating, or a document is stored during the termination of the document management system 10. When copying a document in a certain folder to the workspace, the "copy to workspace" application 24) that can be registered in the workspace gives the attribute information of the document, for example, the name "original location". Add the path name of the copy source document as an attribute item of. This makes it possible to process documents in the workspace using the "original location" attribute.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the UI processing unit 16 shows the attribute information when receiving an instruction to display the attribute information of the document selected by the user in the workspace opened on the document pane 120. The information view 150 is displayed. In this information view 150, in addition to the "location" 152 (for example, the path name of the document) in which the document is stored, the value of the "original location" 154 of the document is displayed.

Further, the UI processing unit 16 may display each document in the work space opened on the document pane 120 so as to reflect the "original location". FIG. 13 shows an example of such a display. In this example, the display modes of the icons 162A to 162F of each document in the work space opened on the document pane 120 are distinguished for each "original place". For example, since documents B, C, and D have the same "original location" folder, the display modes of the icons 162B, 162C, and 162D of these three documents (for example, the color of the icon and its outline, the line thickness, and the brightness). Etc.) are the same, but the display mode is different from the display mode of the icon 162A of the document A and the icons 162E and 162F of the documents E and F in which the folders of the "original location" are different.

Further, in the example of FIG. 13, a file name reflecting the "original location" of the document is attached to the icon of each document. For example, the document A is copied from one of the monthly subfolders of the purchase order folder in the user folder under the control of the document management system 10, and the file name display of the icon 162A of the document A is displayed by the document management system 10. It is a character string representing the path from ("Document management") to the document A (copy source) in the monthly subfolder. Although the example is omitted, for a document copied from another local folder to the workspace that is not under the control of the document management system 10, a character string representing the full path of the copy source of the document is displayed in the file name display. Is displayed.

You can also copy files on a remote server outside the computer on which the document management system 10 is installed to the workspace. The document management screen 100 illustrated in FIG. 13 shows a state in which a cloud service 119 having a document storage function on the Internet is mounted on a document management system 10 and used. Icons 162E and 162F represent copies of documents E and F in a folder within the cloud service 119. Here, the actual bodies of the documents E and F exist as temporary files in the computer, but the icons 162E and 162F have the URL (Uniform Resource) of the copy source of the documents E and F so as not to make the user aware of them. A file name display indicating Locator) is attached. When displaying the same information view 150 as in FIG. 12 for the documents E and F, the URL is displayed in the column of the original location 154a as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the UI processing unit 16 may display the icons of the documents in the work space developed on the document pane 120 by grouping them for each document having the same copy source folder. In the illustrated example, the icons 162 of the documents having the same copy source folder are arranged in the area surrounded by the frame 164 for grouping. Further, in the illustrated example, the hierarchy of the folder to which each document belongs is represented by the nested structure of the frame 164. For example, in the display of FIG. 15, the document B is stored in a certain folder a represented by the frame 164a, and the documents C and D are stored in another folder b (represented by the frame 164b) under the folder a. It expresses that it is preserved.

Further, the UI processing unit 16 has a function of opening a folder of "original location" of documents in the work space and displaying a group of documents in the folder. For example, in FIG. 16, in the workspace developed on the document pane 120, the user places the cursor on the icon 162 of a document (that is, selects the document) and right-clicks the mouse to operate the context menu 170. Is displayed. The context menu 170 includes a menu item 172 that says "open original location". When the user selects this menu item, the UI processing unit 16 displays the icon of the document group in the "original location" (folder in which the copy source of the document is saved) of the document, as illustrated in FIG. Is displayed. In the example of FIG. 17, the document pane 120 is divided into upper and lower parts, the lower pane 120b displays the work space, and the upper pane 120a displays the “original place”. In the illustrated example, the pane 120a displays the icons of the three documents stored in the "original location". The user can open and view the document in the pane 120a, or copy the document in the pane 120a to the lower pane 120b (workspace) by a drag and drop operation. Also, while the "original location" is open, among the documents in the workspace of the lower pane 120b, the icon of the document corresponding to the "original location" (that is, the target for opening the "original location") The selected document) may be displayed in a display mode (for example, highlighted by changing the color, brightness, etc.) that can be distinguished from the icons of other documents in the workspace. This informs the user which document in the workspace the open "original location" corresponds to.

Also, among the documents in the "original location" in the pane 120a, the icon of the document having the same name as the document in the lower pane 120b corresponding to the "original location" (that is, the copy source document) is changed to "original". It may be displayed in a display mode that can be distinguished from the icons of other documents in "Location".

Also, when the "original location" is opened in the upper pane 120a from the context menu 170 or the like for a certain document in the workspace, the "original location" folder currently open in the pane 120a is changed to the "original location". The icon of the document in the workspace (lower pane 120b) having as an attribute may be displayed in a display form that can be distinguished from the icon group whose "original location" attribute has other values. As a result, the user can grasp in the workspace (lower pane 120b) a document having the same "original location" as the document selected as the attention destination in the workspace. If you can grasp the document that came from the same "original place" as the document that the user is paying attention to in the workspace, it will be a reference for the user's work.

Also, if you want to display the icon of a document that has the same "original location" attribute as the document selected by the user so that it can be distinguished from other documents in the workspace, open the "original location" first. The icon of the document in the operated workspace and the icon of the document group in the other workspace having "original location" as an attribute are displayed in a display form that can be distinguished from each other in the lower pane 120b. You may. That is, in this example, the icon of the document in the workspace in which the operation of first opening the "original location" is displayed so that the icon of the document having the same "original location" can be distinguished. This allows the user to identify the document that was originally of interest (the target of the operation to open the "original location") from other documents (particularly other documents that share the "original location"). It is considered that a series of work performed by opening the "original place" is often positioned as a sub work performed by interrupting the main work. By marking a document that has been opened (first) as in this example so that it can be distinguished from other documents, it is possible to provide guidance for the user to smoothly return to the original main work.

Users need to, for example, refer to other documents in the "original location" of a document or use other documents for work while performing work with a document in the workspace. If it does occur, use the function of opening this "original location". Further, by performing an "open" operation such as clicking the icon of the document displayed in the upper pane 120a, the document in the "original location" can be opened and its contents can be displayed.

If the "original location" is a folder that is not under the control of the document management system 10, the document management system 10 calls the UI of the OS file system (for example, Explorer (trademark) of Windows (registered trademark)) and calls it. You may open the "Original Location" folder on the UI screen. Of course, in this case as well, the "original location" may be opened in the pane or window generated in the document management screen 100 as in the example of FIG.

Further, when the "original location" is in a remote computer connected from the document management system 10 via a network, the document management system 10 similarly acquires the information of the folder of the "original location". , Display on the screen.

The button 138 in the operation button area 130 is a button for calling an operation to open the "original place". By pressing this button 138 and selecting the target document from the workspace, the user can open the "original location" folder of the document on the screen in the same manner as described above.

In addition, the UI processing unit 16 receives an instruction to write back the document in the work space to the "original place". The write-back may be an overwrite on the document with the same name in the "original location", or may be a process of giving a new name and writing to the folder in the "original location". The UI processing unit 16 gives, for example, "overwrite original location" and "name" the context menu called from the document icon in the workspace displayed in the document pane 120 or the folder pane 110 of the document management screen 100. Display a menu item such as "Save to original location", overwrite the document with the document with the same name in "Original location" when the former is selected, accept the input of the name of the document when the latter is selected, and accept the document. To the "original location" with that name.

In the above example, the path name of the document from which the document was copied was recorded as the "original location" attribute of the document in the workspace, but the path name of the document is excluded from the path name instead of the entire path name. (That is, the path of the folder to which the copy source document belongs) may be used as the "original location" attribute. Even in this case, any service that does not require identification of the copy source document can be provided.

In the above example, information on the original location is recorded for documents registered in the workspace from other folders, and various services are provided according to the information. However, the same handling may be performed for folders other than the workspace. In this case, the user sets the target folder of this "original location" service in the setting management unit 18. When a document is registered from another folder in the folder indicated by this setting, the document management system 10 records the information of "original location" in the attribute of the document.

<Temporary cleanup of work space>
Consider a case where it becomes necessary for a user to perform other work with higher priority on the document management system 10 while the work is being performed using the work space. In this case, the documents for the current work in the work space can be temporarily put away (retracted) to free up the work space, and the documents for new work can be placed in the vacant work space. And work efficiency is good. In addition, after the interrupted work is completed, it is convenient to be able to redeploy the documents that have been cleaned up before that in the work space and resume the interrupted work. Hereinafter, the function of the document management system 10 for temporarily cleaning up such work will be described.

As shown in FIG. 18, the UI processing unit 16 has the work space 114 open on the document pane 120, and the UI processing unit 16 is on the right side of the mouse with respect to the ground portion (the area where the document icon 122 is not present) of the document pane 120. When a specific operation such as a click is performed, the context menu 180 for the workspace is displayed. The context menu 180 includes a menu item "clean up" 182. By selecting this menu item "Clear", the user instructs to temporarily clean the documents in the current workspace. The user can also instruct the temporary cleaning up of the document group currently held in the work space 114 by pressing the button 136 in the operation button area 130.

When there is an instruction to clean up, the cleanup processing unit 20 (see FIG. 1) is activated. The cleanup processing unit 20 executes, for example, the procedure shown in FIG. In this procedure, the cleanup processing unit 20 first displays the cleanup dialog 400 (see FIG. 20) on the screen via the UI processing unit 16 (S20). In the cleanup dialog 400, a message 402 requesting input of the name of the newly created folder as the cleanup destination of the documents in the workspace and an input field 404 of the name are displayed. In the input field 404 when it is first displayed, a default name (for example, a character string indicating the current date and time) generated according to a preset naming convention is displayed. The user changes the name in the input field 404 to the one desired by the user, if necessary. When a folder with the name displayed in the input field 404 is generated and it is determined that the documents are to be cleaned up in the folder, the user presses the OK button. On the other hand, if you want to cancel the tidying up, press the cancel button. If a cleanup folder with the same name as the name entered in the input field 404 of the cleanup dialog 400 already exists, the cleanup processing unit 20 does not immediately create a cleanup folder with that name, and the cleanup processing unit 20 does not immediately create a cleanup folder with that name. Prompt the user to change the name entered in. Then, when a name different from the existing cleanup folder is input, a new cleanup folder is created with that name.

The cleanup processing unit 20 determines whether the user has pressed the OK or cancel button (S22), and if the cancel button is pressed, the process ends.

When the OK button is pressed, the cleanup processing unit 20 has a new folder (with the name in the input field 404) directly under the work space 114 in the hierarchical structure of the folders under the control of the document management system 10. Clean up folder) is created (S24). Then, the cleanup processing unit 20 moves all the documents in the work space to the cleanup folder created in S24 (S26). That is, save those documents in a tidy-up folder and delete them from your workspace.

In this example, the tidy-up folder is a subfolder (child folder) of the workspace, which is an exception to the principle that the workspace does not have child folders inside. The tidy-up folder is a folder that has a limited role as a temporary save destination for the workspace, unlike the folders that form a hierarchical structure for organizing documents. In this example, only such a tidy-up folder is used. , Allowed to be placed below the workspace. It should be noted that, unlike the folders that form a hierarchical structure for organizing documents, there is no particular meaning that the tidying up folder is "lower" in the workspace. If the attribute information of the tidying up folder indicates that the tidying up folder is the tidying up destination of the documents in the workspace, the tidying up folder does not have to be arranged under the workspace.

As a result of this cleanup process, the document management screen 100 displayed is, for example, as shown in FIG. In the document management screen 100 of FIG. 21, the icon of the tidying up folder 115 is displayed in the hierarchy directly below the icon of the workspace 114 in the folder pane 110. Further, the document icon does not exist in the workspace displayed in the document pane 120.

After cleaning up the documents of the first work in the first cleanup folder, it is necessary to start the second work using the work space and perform another work while the second work is being executed. If so, the documents for the second work in the workspace will be further cleaned up. In this case, the cleanup processing unit 20 creates a second cleanup folder different from the first cleanup folder in the hierarchy directly below the work space, and moves (saves) the documents in the current work space to this folder. do. In this way, a plurality of tidying up folders can be created.

The tidying up folder 115 is a save destination for temporarily saving a group of documents for work performed using the work space, and it is prohibited to work using the tidying up folder 115. This is to clarify the principle that work using documents is performed in the workspace.

If the cleanup folder is opened in the document pane 120 to accept operations such as editing, adding / deleting documents, etc., the distinction between the work space and the cleanup folder becomes ambiguous, and there are substantially a plurality of work spaces. .. If this is accepted, the user will always have to be aware of whether the work they are currently working on is in the workspace or in which clean-up folder. For example, a new document to be used for the work after the user temporarily interrupts the work while opening the tidying up folder and executing the work using the documents in the folder, and after terminating the document management system 10. Suppose you find. When the new document is used for work, the user needs to, for example, start the document management system 10, identify and open the cleanup folder that was open before the interruption, and save the document in the cleanup folder. To identify the cleanup folder that was open before the interruption, the user must remember that the cleanup folder was the one used for the most recent work. It is also conceivable to copy a new document used for the interrupted work to the workspace by using, for example, the "copy to workspace" application 24 without opening the document management system 10, but the work is done before the interruption. If you were in a tidy-up folder, it would be a mistake to copy the document to your workspace (which is for work separate from the tidy-up folder). However, in order to let the user specify the workspace or the tidying up folder to be the copy destination, the user's memory is tested as in the case of copying the document to the tidying up folder before the interruption after opening the document management system 10. It becomes.

On the other hand, if the work is performed in the work space and the tidying up folder is controlled so that it cannot be used as a work place (that is, editing or the like is not permitted), such a problem can be solved or alleviated.

The document processing unit 14 may accept an operation of opening the tidying up folder 115 on the document pane 120 and an operation of opening the document in the tidying up folder 115. This can be used, for example, for the user to check the contents of the tidying up folder. However, in order to make the tidying up folder unusable for work, operations to change the contents of the documents in the tidying up folder 115 (editing, deleting, etc.), adding a new document to the tidying up folder 115, and tidying up folder Operations such as deleting documents from 115 are not allowed. For example, when a user drops a document into the cleanup folder 115 by a drag and drop operation, the document processing unit 14 does not accept the drop operation, and instead, the document is moved to the cleanup folder via the UI processing unit 16. An error screen (not shown) indicating that addition is prohibited is displayed. Further, when the user performs an operation of opening a document in the tidying up folder opened on the document pane 120, the document processing unit 14 opens the document on the screen in a read-only (non-editable) state.

A workspace is "active" in the sense that it accepts operations to change its contents, whereas a tidy-up folder that is not allowed to change its contents may be considered an "inactive" workspace.

Next, the resumption of the work that has been temporarily cleared up will be described. That is, in the following, after the interrupted second work is completed, the document group of the first work cleared before that is expanded again in the work space, and the case where the first work is restarted will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 22, the user opens the context menu 190 of the tidying up folder 115 from which the work is to be resumed from the folder pane 110 of the document management screen 100. The context menu 190 includes a menu item 192 "return to workspace". When the user selects the menu item "Return to work space" by a click operation or the like, the cleanup processing unit 20 executes a process for returning the documents in the cleanup folder to the work space. FIG. 23 illustrates the procedure of this process.

In the processing procedure of FIG. 23, when the cleanup processing unit 20 receives an instruction to return the cleanup folder to the work space, it first determines whether or not a document currently exists in the work space (S30). If there are currently no documents in the work space, the cleanup processing unit 20 moves all the documents in the cleanup folder to the work space (S40), and deletes the cleanup folder after the movement is completed (S42).

When it is determined in S30 that the document currently exists in the workspace, it is necessary to preserve the document group in the workspace. In this case, the tidying up processing unit 20 creates a tidying up folder for saving the documents in the current work space, and moves those documents to the folder. That is, the cleanup processing unit 20 displays the cleanup return dialog 410 illustrated in FIG. 24 on the screen (S32). In this dialog 410, a message indicating that the documents in the current workspace need to be cleaned up in order to return the documents in the cleanup folder to the workspace, and a message prompting for the name of a new cleanup folder for that purpose. Includes 412 and an input field 414 for that name. A default name is displayed in the input field 414 as in the input field 404 of the cleanup dialog 400 of FIG. 20, and the user can change the name to his / her desired name. When a tidying up folder with the name displayed in the input field 414 is generated and it is determined that the documents in the workspace are tidying up in the folder, the user presses the OK button. On the other hand, when canceling this tidying up, the cancel button is pressed.

The cleanup processing unit 20 determines whether the user has pressed the OK or cancel button (S34), and if the cancel button is pressed, the process ends. In this case, the tidying up folder and workspace selected by the user for return are maintained as they are.

When the OK button is pressed, the cleanup processing unit 20 creates a new cleanup folder with the name in the input field 414 at the level directly below the work space 114 (S36), and all the cleanup folders currently in the work space. Move the document to the tidying up folder (S38). This empties the workspace. After that, the cleanup processing unit 20 moves all the documents in the cleanup folder selected as the return target to the work space (S40). As a result, the documents that were previously in the tidying up folder are retained in the workspace, and the tidying up folder is emptied. The cleanup processing unit 20 deletes the empty cleanup folder (S42).

The document in the work space has information on the position of the icon of the document on the work space (that is, the coordinates in which the icons of the documents are arranged in the coordinate system of the document pane 120) as an attribute. Documents that have been tidied up from the workspace to the tidying up folder retain their attributes. When the tidying up folder is returned to the workspace, the icon for each document is placed on the document pane 120 at the position indicated by its attribute.

In the above example, the operation to change the contents of the tidying up folder, that is, adding or deleting documents to the tidying up folder, editing the documents in the tidying up folder, etc. is prohibited, but the user desires. Depending on the situation, some or all of the restrictions may be released. For example, the setting management unit 18 is provided with setting information for operations on the tidying up folder, and the user can perform each operation in the setting information (for example, adding or deleting a document to the tidying up folder, editing a document in the tidying up folder). It may be possible to select whether or not to allow it.

In the above example, when interrupting the current work and starting a new work, the documents in the work space are moved to the newly generated cleanup folder according to the cleanup instruction to free up the work space. The workspace may be changed to an inactive state, a new workspace for new work may be created, and the new workspace may be activated. In this case, the document management system 10 manages the selected one of the plurality of workspaces to be held as the active state and the other workspace as the inactive state. The document management system 10 allows operations to change the contents of the workspace such as adding, deleting, and editing documents for the active workspace, but allows the contents of the workspace for the inactive workspace. Do not allow operations to change. Of the plurality of workspaces, the UI processing unit 16 handles the active workspace as the workspace 114 in the folder pane 110 of the document management screen 100, and the inactive workspace is the tidying up folder 115 in the folder pane 110. Treat as.

Further, the same temporary cleanup process as described above may be applied to folders other than the workspace.

<Synchronization of workspace>
The process of synchronizing the work space in the document management system 10 with the folder corresponding to the work space in another computer will be described. Here, synchronization of two folders (work space is also a kind of folder) is a process of making a set of documents held by the two folders match each other. That is, in two synchronized folders, the documents held in one folder are also held in the other folder, and there is no document held in one folder but not in the other folder. In addition, the same document stored in those two folders has the same not only the file name but also the contents and the last modification date and time.

Such workspace synchronization is used, for example, in the following cases. For example, multiple users may put the same document in the workspace of each computer, and each person works on the document in the workspace of their own computer to realize pseudo collaboration. This is an example. Also, if the same user works on the computer in the first location when there is one, and the same work is done on the computer in the second location at another time, the workspaces in those two computers can be synchronized. You will need it. In addition, in the case of collaborative work and when the same user performs the same work on different computers at different times, the work space in the first computer can be used as the work space in a server such as a cloud service on the Internet. It is also possible to synchronize to a folder once, and then synchronize from the folder on the server to the workspace of the second computer. In the following, a case where the workspace of the document management system 10 in a certain computer is synchronized with the corresponding folder on the cloud service will be described as an example.

In this example, as illustrated in FIG. 25, the folder structure of the cloud service 119 used by the user is mounted on the folder structure of the document management system 10. In the cloud service 119, a folder 119a for a user (tentatively named "user A") who is using the document management system 10 is provided, and a work space 119b is provided in the folder 119a. There is. The workspace 119b (which is actually in a cloud service on the Internet) is a folder in the document management system 10 corresponding to the workspace of the user A, and is provided to synchronize with the workspace. In the illustrated example, in the hierarchical structure of folders, the tidying up folder 115 exists below the workspace 114.

Further, a synchronization button 139 is provided in the operation button area 130. The synchronization button 139 is a button for instructing execution of synchronization between the workspace in the document management system 10 and the workspace folder in the cloud service 119.

In the example of FIG. 25, a work space is opened in the document pane 120 of the document management screen 100. In this state, the cleanup button 136, the "original location" button 138 and the sync button 139 in the operation button area 130 are in the active state (that is, the user can select), and the "copy to workspace" button 134 cannot be selected. State (low contrast display, user cannot select this operation). Also, in the document pane 120, a toolbox 500 for a workspace is displayed, which includes a cleanup button 502, an "original location" button 504, and a sync button 506. These buttons 502 to 506 have the same role as the buttons of the same name in the operation button area 130. (Also in the example described with reference to FIG. 4 and the like, a toolbox 500 for a similar workspace may be displayed in the document pane 120 displaying the workspace.)

In this example, the user presses the synchronization button 139 or 506 (for example, by clicking the mouse) with the workspace 114 open on the document pane 120, so that the workspace 114 and the cloud service 119 are selected. It can be synchronized with the work space 119b inside. That is, the synchronization processing unit 22 (see FIG. 1) is activated in response to the pressing of the synchronization button 139 or the like, and the synchronization processing unit 22 uses the work space 114 in the document management system 10 and the work space 119b in the cloud service 119. Copy the document between them, delete the document, etc. so that the set of documents that they have is the same. ).

Although not shown, a menu item for synchronizing with the cloud may be displayed on the context menu called for the icon of the workspace 114 in the folder pane 110, and synchronization may be executed by selecting this menu item. good.

Only the documents in the work spaces 114 and 119b are synchronized by the synchronization processing unit 22 at the time of the synchronization processing between the work space 114 and the work space 119b. Even if there are subfolders (that is, tidying up folders) in the work spaces 114 and 119b, the synchronization processing unit 22 does not automatically synchronize the subfolders when synchronizing the work spaces in principle. As a result, the amount of communication between the document management system 10 and the cloud service when synchronizing the workspace is reduced.

FIG. 26 illustrates a document management screen 100 in a state where the tidying up folder 115 is opened on the document pane 120. When the cleanup folder 115 is open, the "copy to work space" button 134, the cleanup button 136, the "original location" button 138, and the synchronization button 139 in the operation button area 130 are in the unselectable state and are for the work space. The toolbox corresponding to the toolbox 500 is also not displayed. Therefore, the tidying up folder 115 cannot be synchronized with the cloud service side by at least one-touch button operation. A menu item for synchronizing with the cloud is displayed on the icon of the cleanup folder 115 or the context menu called from the document pane 120, and the cleanup folder 115 can be synchronized with the cloud service side by selecting this menu item. May be good.

As described above, in principle, the tidying up folder 115 is not synchronized with the cloud service side when the workspace is synchronized with the cloud service side. However, when the user instructs the synchronization of the workspace, the synchronization processing unit 22 may ask the user whether to synchronize the tidying up folders at the same time. FIG. 27 shows an example of the inquiry screen 600 displayed by the synchronization processing unit 22 for this inquiry. The inquiry screen 600 includes a message 602 prompting the selection of a tidying up folder to be synchronized at the same time as a workspace to be synchronized with the cloud side, and a display field 604 of a list of tidying up folders to be selected. In the display field 604, the names of the tidying up folders included in the workspace are listed. A checkbox is displayed to the left of the name of the tidying folder in the list, and the user can select the tidying folder to be synchronized by checking this checkbox. If the number of tidy-up folders is large and all of them cannot be displayed in the display field 604, the display range is scrolled by the scroll bar 606 at the end of the display field 604. Here, the arrangement of the tidying up folders in the list displayed in the display field 604 may be, for example, in the order of newest generation date and time of the tidying up folders. In this way, when the inquiry screen 600 is opened, the cleanup folder with the latest generation date and time is displayed at the top of the display field 604, and the other cleanup folders are arranged below in the order of the newest generation date and time.

If there is a tidying up folder that the user wants to synchronize at the same time as the workspace, the user puts a check mark in the check box to indicate the intention to select, and then presses the OK button. As a result, the synchronization processing unit 22 synchronizes the work space and the selected tidying up folder with the corresponding folders on the cloud service side, respectively.

In the above example, the synchronization of the workspace is executed according to the instruction of the user, but instead of this, the synchronization may be automatically executed at a periodic timing or the like. For example, when the document management system 10 is started, synchronization may be performed automatically.

Further, the user's setting may be accepted for this automatic synchronization. FIG. 28 illustrates a setting screen 700 for a workspace including automatic synchronization settings. The setting screen 700 includes a setting field 702 for automatic synchronization of the workspace and a setting field 704 for automatic synchronization of the tidying up folder. In the setting field 702 for automatic synchronization of the workspace, the option of not performing automatic synchronization and the option of performing automatic synchronization can be selected with a radio button, and for the latter option, the timing of performing automatic synchronization is a check box. It is listed with, and one or more of each of these timings can be selected. Options for the timing of automatic synchronization of the workspace include the timing when the workspace changes such as adding or deleting documents, and the periodic timing. For the latter, the interval between the periodic timings is listed. It can be set. Further, in the setting field 704 for the automatic synchronization of the tidying up folder, two options, that is, the option of not performing the automatic synchronization and the option of performing the automatic synchronization when the tidying up folder is generated, can be selected by the radio button. The options illustrated in FIG. 28 are merely exemplary, and there may be other options, for example.

As explained above, in this example, the workspace can be synchronized with the cloud service side by one-touch operation, but synchronization with the cloud service side of the tidying up folder is not permitted, or even if it is permitted, it is a workspace. It requires more complex operations (eg calling and selecting a context menu). Also, the timing of automatic synchronization is that the tidying up folder is more limited than the workspace.

It should be noted that the same synchronization control can be applied by the method of using the work space in the active state and the work space in the inactive state as described above instead of using the work space and the tidying up folder. In this case, the active workspace may be treated as the workspace in the above synchronous processing, and the inactive workspace may be treated as the tidying up folder in the above synchronous processing.

<Resolving inconsistencies during synchronization>
Next, the synchronization processing between the work space 114 in the document management system 10 and the corresponding folder (work space 119b) on the cloud service side will be described in more detail.

For this synchronization processing, the synchronization processing unit 22 manages the synchronization management file. In the synchronization management file, the update date and time of each document in the work space 114 and the corresponding folder on the cloud service side at the time of the previous synchronization is recorded. Each time the synchronization is executed, the synchronization processing unit 22 checks the update date and time of each document in the work space after the completion of the synchronization and the corresponding folder on the cloud service side, and updates the synchronization management file accordingly.

When executing the synchronization process, the synchronization processing unit 22 detects the addition, deletion, and update of the document in the workspace of the document management system 10 and the corresponding folder of the cloud service by referring to the synchronization management file.

FIG. 29 illustrates the procedure of the synchronization processing executed by the synchronization processing unit 22. In this procedure, the synchronization processing unit 22 first acquires a list of documents existing in the workspace of the document management system 10 and a list of documents existing in the corresponding folder of the cloud service which is the synchronization partner (S50).

Next, the synchronization processing unit 22 collates the document list of the workspace acquired in S50 and the document list of the corresponding folder with the synchronization management file (S52). In this collation, for example, if a document in the document list of the workspace is not recorded in the synchronization management file, it can be determined that the document is a document added to the workspace after the previous synchronization. Further, for example, when the document recorded in the synchronization management file is not in the document list of the workspace, it can be determined that the document has been deleted from the workspace. Further, if the update date and time of the document in the document list of the workspace is later than the update date and time of the same document recorded in the synchronization management file, it can be determined that the document in the workspace has been updated. The same judgment is made for the documents in the corresponding folder on the cloud service side.

Next, the synchronization processing unit 22 uploads the document added to the workspace found in S52 to the corresponding folder on the cloud service side, and similarly downloads the document found to have been added to the corresponding folder on the cloud service side to the workspace. (S54). If it is found that the document recorded in the synchronization management file has been updated in one of the workspace or the cloud service but not in the other, the synchronization processing unit 22 reflects the update in the other. May be good. For example, if the document in the workspace is updated and the same document on the cloud service side is not updated, the document in the workspace is overwritten with the same document in the corresponding folder on the cloud service side.

Next, the synchronization processing unit 22 lists the document inconsistencies between the two due to the deletion or update of the documents in the work space and the corresponding folder on the cloud side based on the information obtained in S52, and regarding each of these inconsistencies. A batch synchronization screen for accepting a solution specification from the user is generated (S56).

The inconsistencies extracted here are limited to those that require the user to make a judgment. For example, the documents added to one of the corresponding folders on the workspace and cloud side processed in S54 and the documents updated on one side and not updated on the other side are inconsistent in a broad sense, but these are added. It is clear that the updated and updated documents should be prioritized, and there is no need to ask the user's judgment. Also, if the document recorded in the synchronization management file is deleted from both the workspace and the corresponding folder on the cloud side, it is clear that the document is unnecessary for the user, and at the time of synchronization. You don't have to ask the user for judgment.

The inconsistencies extracted in S56 include the following cases. One is a case where a document is deleted from one of the work space and the corresponding folder on the cloud service side, but the document remains in the other. In this case, the user may want to use the remaining document, so ask the user how to resolve the inconsistency (delete only one). The second case is a case where the same document is updated in both the workspace and the corresponding folder on the cloud side. This case is called a race condition. In a race condition case, ask the user which update is enabled (ie, which one to adopt for this synchronization). The batch synchronization screen is configured to accept the user's choice of solution for each of the inconsistencies that fall under these cases. The batch synchronization screen will be described later.

Next, the synchronization processing unit 22 displays the batch synchronization screen and accepts the user to select a solution (action) for each inconsistency (S58). Then, those inconsistencies are resolved by a solution method selected by the user (S59). By resolving this inconsistency (and the processing of S54), synchronization between the workspace and the corresponding folder on the cloud service side is realized.

The example of the procedure of the synchronous processing has been described above. Next, an example of the batch synchronization screen 800 displayed in S58 will be described with reference to FIG. The batch synchronization screen 800 includes a message asking the user to take action, a workspace priority button 802, a cloud priority button 804, and an inconsistency list 810.

The inconsistency list 810 lists the inconsistencies extracted in S56. In this inconsistency list 810, for each inconsistency, the document name (file name) of the document in which the inconsistency is detected, the description of the "state" of the inconsistency, and the inconsistency are resolved. Action (solution) item is included. The action item is configured as a pull-down menu, which lists action options for resolving the inconsistent "state". The user can select an action to resolve the inconsistency from the pull-down menu.

The workspace priority button 802 is a button for selecting an action that prioritizes documents on the workspace side for all inconsistencies in the inconsistency list 810. The cloud priority button 804 is a button for selecting an action that prioritizes documents in the corresponding folder on the cloud service side for all inconsistencies in the inconsistency list 810.

FIG. 31 illustrates a determination table for each “state” of inconsistency. This table shows the action options that can be selected from the pull-down menu for each "state", and which of these options is selected when the workspace priority button 802 or the cloud priority button 804 is pressed. Has been done. For example, for an inconsistent state where a document has been deleted from the workspace (the same document remains on the cloud side), the action options you can choose from are the action to delete the document on the cloud as well as its from the cloud. There is the action of returning a document to the workspace (ie downloading that document in the cloud to the workspace). Then, among those action options, the one selected when the workspace priority button 802 and the cloud priority button 804 are pressed is indicated by a circle. For example, if the workspace priority button 802 is pressed, the action to delete the document on the cloud is selected, and if the cloud priority button 804 is pressed, the document is returned from the cloud to the workspace. The action to do is selected.

When the workspace priority button 802 on the batch synchronization screen 800 is pressed, the synchronization processing unit 22 displays a pull-down menu of actions corresponding to each document in the inconsistency list 810 by displaying the workspace priority button in the determination table of FIG. Change to the state where the option when 802 is pressed is selected. Further, when the cloud priority button 804 button is pressed, the synchronization processing unit 22 displays the pull-down menu of the action corresponding to each document in the inconsistency list 810, and the cloud priority button 804 is pressed in the determination table of FIG. Change the time option to the selected state. It is also possible to collectively select the action options for each inconsistent document with the workspace priority button 802 and the cloud priority button 804, and then reselect the action from the pull-down menu for each document. It is also possible to reselect all at once by pressing the workspace priority button 802 and the cloud priority button 804 again.

When the user presses the OK button on the batch synchronization screen 800, the action selected at that time for each document in the inconsistency list 810 becomes the synchronization processing (inconsistency resolution) action applied to that document. .. The synchronization processing unit 22 executes the action for each of these documents.

Further, in the batch synchronization screen 800 illustrated in FIG. 30, a selection fixing means (for example, a GUI button) for accepting fixing of selection may be provided in association with a pull-down menu of actions of individual inconsistent documents. The pull-down menu of the inconsistent document whose choices are fixed by the selection fixing means according to the user's instruction does not change (that is, fixed) even when the workspace priority button 802 and the cloud priority button 804 are pressed. The choices made are maintained).

Further, as shown in FIG. 32, among the types of inconsistencies shown in the batch synchronization screen 800, regarding the update conflict between the local (document management system 10) side and the cloud service side, the local and cloud side updates respectively. The time may be displayed. Such display of the update time serves as reference information when the user determines whether to adopt the update on the local side or the cloud side. It is conceivable that the synchronization processing unit 22 automatically selects the one with the newest update time, but the user may want to select the one with the oldest update, so in this example, the user is requested to make a judgment. ..

Further, in the examples of FIGS. 30 and 31, there are two action options for the document in which the update conflict occurs, that is, the document in either the workspace or the corresponding folder on the cloud side overwrites the other. rice field. In addition to this, you may add the option "Rename and save both" to the options in case of conflict. This option renames (renames) the conflicting document in the workspace, uploads the renamed document to the cloud side, and uploads the cloud side conflicting document (not renamed) to your side. It is a process of downloading to. As an example, the renaming method is to add a specific delimiter (for example, a hyphen) and a serial number (the one that does not overlap with the number previously added to the document name) after the original document name. May be used. Also, instead of renaming the document on the workspace side, the document on the cloud side may be renamed. Also, of the documents on the workspace and the cloud side, the one selected according to a specific criterion (for example, the one with the oldest update date and time) may be renamed. According to the synchronous processing of this option, both the workspace and cloud side versions of the competing document are saved in both the workspace and the cloud side by renaming one.

The document management system 10 and the "copy to workspace" application 24 illustrated above are realized, for example, by causing a computer to execute a program representing the functions of each of these devices. Here, the computer is, for example, hardware such as a microprocessor such as a CPU, a memory (primary storage) such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM), and an HDD controller that controls an HDD (hard disk drive). Various I / O (input / output) interfaces, network interfaces that control for connection with networks such as local area networks, and the like have a circuit configuration connected via, for example, a bus. In addition, portable non-volatile recording of various standards such as a disk drive for reading and / or writing to a portable disk recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or a flash memory, for example, via an I / O interface on the bus. A memory reader / writer for reading and / or writing to the medium may be connected. A program in which the processing contents of each functional module illustrated above are described is saved in a fixed storage device such as a hard disk drive via a recording medium such as a CD or DVD, or via a communication means such as a network, and stored in a computer. Will be installed. By reading the program stored in the fixed storage device into RAM and executing it by a microprocessor such as a CPU, the functional module group illustrated above is realized.

10 Document management system, 12 Document import unit, 14 Document processing unit, 16 UI processing unit, 18 Setting management unit, 20 Cleanup processing unit, 22 Synchronous processing unit, 24 "Copy to workspace" application, 100 Document management screen, 110 Folder pane, 112 icons, 114 workspace, 116 user folders, 119 cloud services, 120 document pane.

Claims (4)

A document management method that manages documents stored in a group of folders including a specific folder,
A means for adding a document to the specific folder during a non-operating period when the document management means is not operating, and a means for adding a document to the specific folder.
A means for retaining the setting of the folder to be opened when the document management means is started, and
Including
When the document management means is started, if a document is added to the specific folder during the non-operating period immediately before the start, the folder indicated by the setting is a folder other than the specific folder. But, the lists the documents within a specific folder, if the document has not been added to the specific folder in the non-operating period of the immediately preceding the start-up, a list of the documents in the folder indicated by the setting An information processing device characterized by displaying. In the list display of the document group in the specific folder, the document management means displays a document added to the specific folder during the non-operating period immediately before activation, and a document that has been in the specific folder before the non-operating period. It displayed in distinguishable display mode and information processing apparatus according to claim 1. The document management means, wherein the list of documents in a particular folder, the each document has been added to the specified folder in the non-operating period, different display for each folder in which the document was before direct the additional The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , which is displayed in an embodiment. Computer,
Document management means for managing documents stored in a group of folders including a specific folder,
A means for adding a document to the specific folder during a non-operating period when the document management means is not operating,
A means for retaining the setting of the folder to be opened when the document management means is started,
It is a program to function as
When the document management means is started, if a document is added to the specific folder during the non-operating period immediately before the start, the folder indicated by the setting is a folder other than the specific folder. But, the lists the documents within a specific folder, if the document has not been added to the specific folder in the non-operating period of the immediately preceding the start-up, a list of the documents in the folder indicated by the setting A program characterized by displaying.

Images