JPH10232879A - Design information managing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the work burden of user by recording and preserving the history of retrieved contents to the last time for each attribute for every system user so as to utilize retrieval by attributes from a menu picture. SOLUTION: Retrieval keyword groups 11 -1K simultaneously preserve information having plural attributes by retrieval person individuals. Further, retrieval keyword groups 21 -2N by attributes are prepared while preserving retrieved attributes for each attribute. A function is provided for preserving the retrieval keywords 21 , 22 and 2N by attributes and displaying them as a menu by attributes, substrate numbers, preparation dates and delivery destinations provided for these retrieval keyword groups 11 and 12 , for example. In this case, each group is structured so as to preserve the retrieved attributes as many as a number defined by the user. Besides, the number of matters to be registered in the menu is confirmed and a function for automatically adding matters in case of lack is provided as well. Thus, selection from the menu is enabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a design information management system using an object-oriented database system, and more particularly to a search information management system for searching for documents such as drawings and documents.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are a wide variety of documents related to maintenance and management of plant equipment and the like, such as various drawings such as an instrumentation flow diagram and a device layout diagram, a construction plan, a meeting memo. These documents are registered in a computer as digitized information by an image scanner or the like, and are stored in a database so that they can be searched, browsed, and printed.

The design information management system for collectively managing such documents has the following functions.

(1) Registration function: A document is registered in a library area together with its attribute information.

(2) Retrieval function: A container of documents called folders is arranged in a tree hierarchy in each of the library area and the work area, and a list of documents can be displayed by selecting a folder.

(2a) Attribute search function: Enables a search using attribute information added to a document as a keyword.

(2b) Link search function: A link is provided between documents in order to show how a certain document and another document have a relationship.
Make relevant documents searchable from link information. The link of the document by this link is shown in FIG.
The user manually associates a drawing with a drawing, a drawing with a document, a document with a document, and the like. The link includes a version link when a document is changed, a parent-child link indicating a parent-child relationship, and a copy link provided when a document is copied.

(3) Browsing function: The attribute display and the image display of the retrieved document are performed.

(4) Drawing function: A hard copy of a document is obtained.

(5) Editing function: Edits document attributes, pages, files, and the like.

[0011]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

(First Problem) In a conventional design information management system,
By collectively storing a set of documents of search results and search keywords, the search can be omitted for the second and subsequent uses.

However, when using the stored information of a set of these documents, there is a danger that this information is not always the latest (document has been changed), and sufficient care should be taken in its use. Required.

[0013] In this respect, when the saved information of the search keyword is used, the latest document can be used even if the document is changed.

However, since the search keywords are stored as a set, the name of the set of keywords to be stored must be given in a manner that is easy to understand, and operations for that need to be performed by opening separate windows one after another. Becomes larger.

Further, when using a search set, it is necessary to open a window for calling a set of search keywords and perform a call operation.

Further, since the search keywords are managed as a set, when one or two search keywords (for example, a search date and a search title) are changed from a part of the set, the user changes the search keyword from a keyboard or the like. You need to operate. Furthermore, an operation by the user is required to reflect the search date and search title stored for each set in other set information.

An object of the present invention is to provide a design information management system which makes it easy to search for a document from a search keyword by reducing the burden on the user.

(Second Problem) The user performs an association using a link such as a “parts table link” shown in FIG. 8 or a “parent-child drawing link” indicating a parent-child relationship, in order to express the association between documents. . The association using this link is different from the special link that the system manages its behavior, such as "version link" created when upgrading the document, "copy link" created when copying, etc. It is necessary for the user to set up one by one.

This is not a problem when the system shifts to a normal phase in which documents are registered one by one, but in a phase in which a large number of documents are registered, such as when the system is started, successive links are created. The burden of the tensioning work is very challenging.

The load of mass registration itself is also a problem, but this problem has been solved by the batch registration function. What is bulk registration?
This is a function to list the information of documents to be registered in a specific format in advance and read it into the system, thereby eliminating the burden on the user of sequentially registering a large number of drawings.

However, the problem that a large number of registered documents must be linked after registration cannot be solved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a design information management system that simplifies the work for linking documents.

(Third Problem) The conventional design information management system has a function of copying a document, but the copy history is not managed, or the management is voluntarily performed by a general user. It is left to management.

For this reason, when a document is frequently reused, if there is an abnormality in a copy source drawing, an attempt is made to acquire all or a part of a copy document derived from the drawing. If the copy document is not managed, the work load becomes very large.

Further, when the user manages the copy document, there is a possibility that a registration omission or a registration error may occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a design information management system that simplifies the management of copy documents.

[0027]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

(First invention) In order to solve the first problem, the present invention records and saves a history of search contents up to the last time for each attribute for each system user, in addition to storing a set of search keywords. Another search is made available from a menu screen. When a document such as a drawing or a document is searched in a design information management system using an object-oriented database system, attribute information added to the document is used as a search keyword. In a search information management method including means for collectively storing and searching by the search keyword, search keywords for each attribute of the document are grouped and stored, and the search keyword group for each attribute is displayed in a menu, and A means for searching for a document from a menu display of search keywords is provided.

Further, the means includes a function of managing a document by displaying a menu of “bookmark names” defined by a user for each page of the document, and a function of displaying a menu by displaying links between documents as “link names”. It is characterized by having one or a combination of a function of managing documents and a function of managing documents by displaying a menu of folders for storing documents as "folder names" defined by the user. .

The document management based on the "bookmark name" is characterized in that a bookmark for each individual and a global bookmark accessible to a plurality of persons are created and managed.

(Second Invention) According to the present invention, in order to solve the second problem, a link operation between documents is automatically obtained at the time of batch registration of documents. In a management method for obtaining a link between documents such as drawings and documents in a design information management system using a system, as a batch registration format of the documents,
In addition to the "document type" and "title", "link type" that specifies the type of link for linking documents, and "link source" that specifies the attribute name of the attribute search when searching the source document to be linked An item of "identification attribute" and "link source attribute value" for specifying what value is actually searched for the attribute search are provided, and linking between documents is performed from each of the items at the time of batch registration of documents. It is characterized by the following.

(Third Invention) According to the present invention, in order to solve the third problem, when a document is copied, the management of the copy is automatically performed using a link function of the system. In a design information management system that uses an object-oriented database system and has a link function for linking documents such as drawings and documents, documents in a library area that serves as a storage field for completed documents are stored. The ID of the copy source document is recorded when the document is copied to the work area serving as a storage field of the document being edited, and the link function is used by the link function when the document in the work area is registered in the library area upon completion of editing. Link to the source document based on the ID Tension, characterized in that it manages the copying history by the link.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a development view of a set of search keywords showing an embodiment of the present invention. In addition to storing a set of search keywords, a history of previous search contents for each system user is stored for each attribute. Save as a set of search keywords.

The search keyword sets 1 ₁ to 1 _K are the same search sets as before, and collectively collect information having a plurality of attributes.
Stored individually for each searcher.

There is no particular problem in utilizing the search keyword sets 11 ₁ to 1 _K individually. However, in this method, even though the two are already registered as a set, it is not easy to search for a keyword in which the two contents are interlaced, so that a user's manual input is absolutely necessary.

[0035] As a means to complement and improve this, in the present embodiment, providing a demographic search-keyword-set 2 ₁ to 2 _N saved search attributes for each attribute.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, with respect to the search keyword sets 1 ₁ and 1 ₂ , the attribute-specific search keyword sets 2 ₁ according to the attributes, board number, creation date, type and delivery destination of each set, 2 _2, 2 _3, 2 ₄ to save, providing the ability to view it as a menu.

By adopting this method, the user is excluded from the work of considering the search set name, except when it is really necessary.

At this time, each set is structured so as to be able to store the search attributes by the number defined by the user. This is because some users can easily display 5 items.
It is considered that some users want to escape from the manual input work by saving and displaying the individual items, and to respond to such individual requests of the users. As a function for this, the management system is provided with a function of checking the number of items that can be registered in the menu, and automatically adding the number to the menu when the number is insufficient.

Further, a function is provided in which, when a user inputs an attribute which is not in the search keyword set (search attribute history) for each attribute, the user registers the attribute in the set. At this time, when the number of designated registrations is exceeded, a function is provided to remove old ones from the set in order.

By providing these functions, the method of using the search set is a simple method based on selection from a menu. Hereinafter, the designation method in the search keyword set and the designation method in each attribute-based search keyword set will be compared.

FIG. 3 shows a search attribute input screen for the set of FIG. 2. Screen button A is a search keyword set management screen display button. Screen button B is a search attribute set display menu button for each attribute. To perform the management, click button A with a mouse, and FIG.
(C) is called sequentially and various operations (registration / read /
Delete).

FIG. 5 shows a display example of a search keyword menu for each attribute. By clicking button B in FIG. 3 with a mouse, necessary information can be selected immediately. Moreover, a search in the form of a combination of recently used search attributes (set 1 ₂
(Combination of the information “light receiving unit” of the search information of “ ₁ ” and the search information “A Corporation” of the set 11) is also possible.

The registration / deletion does not require the user to be particularly conscious, and the system automatically performs the registration / deletion maintenance, thereby reducing the burden on the user. This is also one of the advantages of this embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the collective management of the search keywords, the collective management of the attribute-specific search keywords is performed, so that the search can be performed with the combination of the search attributes used recently. Become. Moreover,
At this time, the attribute input is not a manual input by the user but a selection from a menu, so that the user's work load can be reduced.

Information management is further facilitated by adding the following functions in addition to the above functions.

(A) Function for managing bookmark search history at the time of bookmark search by menu. This function allows a user to freely define a “bookmark name”, which is called a “bookmark” and can be specified for each page of a document in addition to the attribute search, and perform a search using the “bookmark name”. At this time, conventionally, the user has sequentially input the “bookmark name”, but by managing the “bookmark name” in the menu,
It has the same advantages as the management of the attribute-based search keyword set.

In the document search based on the “bookmark name”, since the “bookmark name” is set and managed for each individual as shown in FIG. 9 showing the relationship between the link and the user, other people may know the existence of the bookmark name. Or, it cannot be shared by multiple people. Therefore, it cannot be effectively used as a means for recognizing a specific document in a group.

In order to solve this problem, it is effective to provide "global bookmarks" in addition to individual bookmarks.
FIG. 10 shows the structure of a global bookmark. In the figure, users “Takahashi” and “Suzuki” have individual bookmarks and can access a global bookmark “Building Design Section 1”.

As a result, it becomes possible to access the global bookmark “share 1” and “share 2” other than the personal bookmark. In the figure, a global bookmark “efficiency improvement group” is also provided, and the user “Suzuki” can access the global bookmark, and can access the bookmark “improvement under review”. It also allows access to a structure that manages multiple global bookmarks.

To add a global bookmark, a global bookmark is displayed on the search screen separately from the personal bookmark. In addition to the bookmark creation screen, a GUI for selecting a bookmark type and selecting a user who is permitted to access the global bookmark when the global bookmark is selected is added to the bookmark creation screen.

As described above, with the introduction of the global bookmark, it becomes possible to attach a common landmark to the document, and the real world is more faithfully electronically reproduced than before, and the user can easily use the document management system. Can be improved. More specifically, the efficiency of group work on design drawings can be improved, and work can be performed by sharing markings on the reviewed parts when reviewing documents.

(B) A function of managing a link search history at the time of link search using a menu. This function is provided with a function called "string" for associating documents called "links" in addition to the attribute search. This "string"
There is a function that allows a user to freely define a name as a “link name” and quickly search for an object connected to the “link” at a high speed based on the “link name”. At this time, the conventional "link name" has been manually performed by the user, but the same advantage can be obtained by managing the "link name" in the menu in the same manner as the management of the attribute-based search keyword set. be able to.

(C) Function for managing the folder search history at the time of folder search using a menu. This function has a container that stores "documents" such as "directories" in a normal computer called "folders" in addition to attribute search. The “folder” has a function in which a user freely defines a name as a “folder name”, and retrieves documents stored in the folder at once by using the “folder name”.

At this time, conventionally, the user inputs the "folder name" one by one. However, the same advantage can be obtained by managing the link name in the menu as in the management of the attribute-based search keyword set. Can be.

(Second Embodiment) This embodiment is a link management function for obtaining a document association.
Table 1 below shows a conventional batch registration format of the drawings, and Table 2 shows a batch registration format for simultaneously performing a batch link in the present embodiment.

[0056]

[Table 1]

[0057]

[Table 2]

As can be seen from a comparison of this table, Table 1 does not have “Link Type”, “Link Source Identification Attribute”, and “Link Source Attribute Value” in columns 7.8 and 9 of Table 2. In the present embodiment, the link processing is performed based on the information in the columns 7, 8, and 9 added to Table 2.

The operations in the second and third rows of Table 1 are the same as those in the second and third rows of Table 2. A drawing in which the document type is a mechanical drawing and the title is a mechanical drawing, and a drawing in which the document type is a reference drawing and the title is a sketch drawing are registered in the database.

The registration operations of the fourth and fifth rows are different between Table 1 and Table 2. The same operation is performed in that a drawing in which the document type is a map and the title is a contour map and a drawing in which the document type is an assembly drawing and the title is a sectional view are registered in a database.

However, in Table 2, in addition to each document registration, a link operation is also performed at the same time. Focusing on the document on the fourth line, the document on the fourth line is linked to the document whose title is the sketch.

The link information at this time is described in the seventh, eighth, and ninth columns. The link type in the seventh column specifies the type of link for associating documents. Here, a parent-child drawing link is specified as an example.

The link source identification attribute in the eighth column specifies the attribute name of the attribute search when searching for the document to be associated. Here, a title is specified as an attribute of a search target.

The link source attribute value in the ninth column specifies what value is actually searched for in the search attribute specified in the eighth column. In the fourth line of Table 2, it is specified to search for an attribute whose title is a sketch.

When the search is performed according to the above specification, the document registered in the third line is obtained as a search result. This document and the document registered in the fourth line are linked by a parent-child drawing link. Hereinafter, by repeating the same processing, a link is similarly established in the fifth, seventh, eighth, and ninth lines.

In this way, it is possible to perform an operation of linking a large number of documents at once.

However, in the above description, there may be a case where two or more search results are obtained for a document whose title is a sketch. In this case, the fact that the link processing has been stopped and failed is described in the error log, and registration and link processing of the fifth and subsequent lines are continued. (Third Embodiment) This embodiment is a copy document management function. When a document is copied, the system automatically manages the copy.

As shown in FIG. 6, the design information management system has two data fields. One is a library area 3 and the other is a work area 4. The library area 3 is a storage field for a completed document, and the work area 4 is a work field for a document being edited.

When the user copies a document from the library area 3 to the work area 4 (arrow A in FIG. 6)
1) The contents of the document are copied, and the ID of the copy source document is recorded.

When the user finishes editing the copied document, and when the document is formally registered in the library area 3 (arrow A2 in FIG. 6), the object-oriented database system is created based on the ID acquired in advance. Documents are linked to each other by using a link which is one of the functions (arrow A3 in FIG. 6).

The copy link of the document is provided bidirectionally between the documents, and is used when referring to the copy history. The copy history can be referred to in four ways as shown in FIG. 7 below by a user interface provided by the system.

FIG. 11A shows the flow of copying from a document. In this copy history, (b) shows a case where only one generation of a copy destination from a document is displayed as a link. (C) shows only one copy source from the document as a link,
(D) shows the case where the link is displayed from the document to the copy destination to the last generation, and (e) shows the case where the copy source is displayed from the document to the last generation.

In the figure, copying is performed linearly for the sake of simplicity. However, since a plurality of copies can be made from one document, the link usually has a tree structure.

[0074]

According to the present invention, in addition to storing a set of search keywords, a history of search contents up to the previous time is recorded and stored for each attribute for each system user, and a search by attribute can be used from a menu screen. Therefore, a search can be performed using a combination of recently used search attributes by not using only the collective management for the search keywords. In addition, the attribute input at this time is not a manual input by the user but a selection from a menu, so that the user's work load can be reduced.

Further, since maintenance for creating the menu can be performed by the system, the burden on the user can be further reduced as compared with the management of a set of search attributes.

(Second Invention) According to the present invention, a link operation between documents is automatically obtained at the time of batch registration of documents, so that a burden on a user for linking is reduced, and a system is provided. The above document management can be performed efficiently.

Conventionally, when a user sequentially associates documents using a GUI of the system, when a large number of documents are registered at once by batch registration or the like, a linking operation using this GUI is not performed. Although a heavy burden has been placed on the user, the burden on the user can be eliminated by adding a collective link function to the collective registration function.

(Third Invention) According to the present invention, since the system manages the copy history of the document, there is no omission or mistake in the copy link. Further, since the link function of the object-oriented database system is used for managing the copy history of the document, a higher-speed search can be performed as compared with the conventional system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a development view of a search keyword set according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example of storing a set in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an example of a search attribute input screen in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows three screens for using a search keyword set in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which a search keyword for each attribute is displayed on a menu in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an example of a document copy and registration operation according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a type of history display of a copy document according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an example of document association by a link in a conventional system.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a link and a user in bookmark management for an individual;

FIG. 10 is a structural example of a global bookmark when a global bookmark is added.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ₁ , 1 ₂ , 1 _K ... search keyword set 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , 2 _N ... attribute-based search keyword set 3 ... library area 4 ... work area

Claims (5)

[Claims] When a document such as a drawing or a document is searched in a design information management system using an object-oriented database system, attribute information added to the document is collectively stored as a search keyword, and the search is performed using the search keyword. In the search information management method provided with means for performing the following, search keywords for each attribute of the document are grouped and stored, a set of search keywords for each attribute is displayed on a menu, and a document is searched from the menu display of the search keywords for each attribute. A design information management system, comprising: 2. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein a user-defined “bookmark name” is menu-displayed for each page of the document to manage the document, and a link between the documents is displayed as a menu “link name” to display the document. It is characterized by having one or a combination of a function of managing documents and a function of managing documents by displaying a menu of folders for storing documents as "folder names" defined by the user. The design information management system according to claim 1. 3. The design information management system according to claim 2, wherein the document management based on the “bookmark name” creates and manages a bookmark for each individual and a global bookmark accessible to a plurality of persons. 4. In a management system for obtaining a link between documents such as drawings and documents in a design information management system using an object-oriented database system, a document registration type and a title are used as a batch registration format of the documents. In addition, "link type" that specifies the type of link to link documents, and "link source identification attribute" that specifies the attribute name of attribute search when searching for the document to be linked
In the attribute search, an item of “link source attribute value” for specifying what value is actually searched is provided, and linking between documents is performed from each item at the time of batch registration of documents. And design information management system. 5. A design information management system using an object-oriented database system having a link function for linking documents such as drawings and documents, wherein a document in a library area serving as a storage field for completed documents is being edited. The ID of the source document is recorded when the document is copied to the work area serving as a document storage field, and when the document in the work area has been edited and registered in the library area, the ID is assigned to the ID by the link function. A design information management system, wherein a link is provided between a source document and a copy source document, and a copy history is managed by the link.