JPH10293764A - Structured document database retrieving method, structured document database retrieval system and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retrieving method of a structured document database which easily designates an element of an object to be retrieved, easily inputs a keyword to the element and performs retrieval in a short time even at the time of retrieving a structured document that is unknown to a user in a retrieving method to a database which accumulates element names that constitute document and structured documents in which the hierarchical structure of an element is defined. SOLUTION: This device shows a document format diagram that defines layout positions of contents of an element, accepts an input of a keyword that is associated with the layout position of the document format diagram, identifies an element that is an object to be retrieved through the layout position where a keyword in inputted, retrieves the content of the identified element based on an inputted keyword and acquires a document.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to, for example, SGML (Sta
A method for searching a database storing a structured document in which the names of elements constituting the document and the hierarchical structure of the elements are defined, such as a document described in ndard Generalized Markup Language (ISO 8879), a search system, and the like. The present invention relates to a recording medium on which a computer program for searching the database is recorded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the United States, the Pentagon and many academic research institutions have introduced SGML, and consumer use is expanding. In addition, WWW (World-Wid
e-Web), HTML (Hyper Text
It is a structured document described in Markup Language). The spread of the Internet / intranet has made it possible to access documents all over the world in the case of the Internet and documents in a group such as a company in the case of the intranet through the network.

[0003] In particular, with the spread of the intranet, standard documents such as in-house documents have been digitized and stored.
Paperless is being promoted. The U.S. Department of Defense is deploying CA to digitize all information related to business activities so that information can be exchanged online
LS (Continuous Acquisition and Life-cycle Support)
Because the project uses SGML for information exchange, structured documents are likely to be more common.

[0004] Since a structured document has a logical structure,
By using this logical structure, retrieval can be performed at high speed and easily. That is, the structure of an SGML document is defined by a document type definition (DTD), and the structure is represented by a tree structure as shown in FIG. Therefore, for example, if the element "report" is "address", "title", "body", "charge"
From the document group having a document structure in which the “body” is composed of “summary” and “detail” elements.
When searching for a report sent to the destination, the element of “destination” may be specified and the search may be performed using “xx” as a keyword without searching the full text.

[0005]

However, when performing a search as described above in a structured document, the user has to specify the document structure to be searched when giving a keyword, so that the structured It is necessary to know the document structure of the document.

For example, the user grasps the tag name (element name) assigned to each node of the tree structure composed of eight elements as shown in FIG. 11, and reports the report transmitted to “Mr. When searching, it is necessary to specify that the element name "destination" is to be searched, and to input "san" as a keyword.

[0007] Therefore, such a search method has a large burden that the document structure of the structured document must be grasped, although the search can be performed at high speed.
The user feels that the search is easier if a conventional full-text search method, a relational database search method, or the like is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and a diagram of a document structure of a structured document is shown to a user using an element name. Makes it easy to specify an element to be searched and input a keyword for that element even when searching for a structured document whose document structure is unknown to the user by searching for the element for which the keyword has been input. It is another object of the present invention to provide a structured document database search method, a search system, and a recording medium on which a computer program for structured document database search is recorded in which a search can be performed in a short time.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for implementing a structured document database search method according to the present invention. The display device 1 uses a structured document such as a document format diagram that specifies the layout position of the content of the element using the element name, a predetermined hierarchical structure of the document structure of the structured document, or a structural diagram of the hierarchical structure of the element. The input screen for the keyword of the document structure diagram and the element name on the diagram. Specify whether the search target element is only the element for which the keyword is input or includes the element of the lower hierarchy. A screen for specifying search conditions and the search results are displayed on the display.

An input device 2 including a keyboard, a mouse, etc.
Means for inputting a keyword for an element name on a diagram of the document structure displayed on the screen, means for specifying a method of inputting a keyword, means for specifying a search condition, and input of display instructions for various input screens And a means for inputting a search execution command.

The interface module 3 creates an input form such as a keyword and a search condition by a user using the input device 2 and displays it on the display device 1 or accepts a user input from the input device 2 for display. A query language is created from the input and passed to the search engine 4.

The search engine 4 uses the passed query language to send a document DB in which structured documents are stored.
(Database) 7 is searched. SGML parser 5
Parses an SGML document based on the DTD, verifies its validity, and creates an entity tree of the SGML document.

The entity manager 6 stores the result of the syntax analysis in the document DB 7 and manages the entity of the document. In the document DB 7, a structured document in which the names of the elements constituting the document and the hierarchical structure of the elements are defined by the DTD is divided into elements and stored. The SGML system constituted by the SGML parser 5, the entity manager 6, and the document DB 7 provides a function of parsing a structured document, dividing the structured document into elements, and storing the divided elements.

The style sheet DB 9 stores a style sheet that defines a rule for forming a document according to the DTD of the SGML document. The DSSSL engine 8 forms a document for displaying the parsed SGML document according to a style sheet stored in the style sheet DB 9 and defining a document forming rule according to the DTD of the SGML document. DSSSL mentioned above
Consists of engine 8 and style sheet DB 9
The DSSSL system provides a function for displaying SGML documents.

The interface module 3 reads a document structure from the SGML system (5, 6, 7), outputs an input form to the display device 1 in accordance with a display format, and cooperates with the DSSSL system (8, 9). Get keywords. Search engine 4 is SGML system (5,6,7) and DSSSL system
Search in accordance with the given query in cooperation with (8,9).

According to the structured document database search method, structured document search system and recording medium of the present invention, the interface module 3 has the DTD stored in the document DB 7 and the DTD style stored in the style sheet DB 9. A document format diagram defining the layout position of the content of the element by the sheet is displayed on the display device 1 in, for example, a frame, and an input of a keyword corresponding to the layout position such as up, down, left, or right of the layout position of the document format diagram is received. The element to be searched is identified by the layout position where the keyword is input. The search engine 4 searches the content of the element identified by the interface module 3 in the document stored in the document DB 7 based on the input keyword, and acquires the document.

Further, in the structured document database search method, structured document search system and recording medium of the present invention, the interface module 3 uses the DTD stored in the document DB 7 to first determine a predetermined one of the element hierarchical structure. The element names belonging to the hierarchy and the information representing the hierarchical relationship are displayed on the display device 1. Based on the displayed element names and the information representing the hierarchical relationship, the designation of the hierarchy in which the element names are to be displayed is received, and the designated hierarchy is received. The display unit 1 displays the element name of the hierarchy with the information indicating the hierarchical relationship on the display device 1 and receives an input of a keyword, for example, in a dialog box associated with the element name
The search target element is identified by the element name in which the keyword is input. The search engine 4 searches the content of the element identified by the interface module 3 in the document stored in the document DTD 7 based on the input keyword, and acquires the document.

Further, in the structured document database search method, structured document search system and recording medium of the present invention, the interface module 3 configures a document including an element to be searched by the DTD stored in the document DB 7. Using the element names of all the elements, a structure diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the elements is displayed, and for example, an input of a keyword in a dialog box associated with the element name of the structure diagram is accepted, and the element in which the keyword is input is displayed. Identify the element to be searched by name. The search engine 4 searches the content of the element identified by the interface module 3 in the document stored in the document DTD 7 based on the input keyword, and acquires the document.

Therefore, the structured document database search method, structured document search system and recording medium of the present invention provide a method for searching a structured document whose document structure is unknown to a user, even when searching for a structured document. It is easy to specify and input a keyword for the element, and search can be performed in a short time.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A structured document database search method according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as the present method) will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in the method of the present invention, a case where style information, which is the above-described document format diagram, is used,
The description will be made based on the explanatory diagram of the keyword input of FIG. 2, the flowchart of FIG. 3, and the diagram of the keyword input example of FIG.

In SGML, a document type is defined by a document type definition (DTD), that is, a document structure such as a chapter, a section, and a section is defined. The interface module 3 reads out the DTD of the SGML document stored in the document DB 7, and outputs “report”, “letter”
The list of elements at the highest level of the tree structure, such as

The user selects, for example, "report" from the DTDs listed on the screen as the DTD suitable for the type of the document to be searched, and selects the DT for which style information is to be displayed.
D is determined (step S1). DSSSL Engine 8
The determined DTD, in this example, a style sheet that defines the rules for forming the document “report” is read from the style sheet DB 9 (step S2), a flow object is generated, and the “report” document as shown in FIG. The format diagram is displayed on the display device 1 (step S3).

According to this document format diagram, even if the user does not know the document structure, the "report" is composed of the elements of "destination", "source", "title", "body", and "charge". Is composed of “summary” and “detail” elements, and the layout position where the content of each element is displayed can be visually grasped in the framework.

The interface module 3 monitors whether or not a keyword has been input to the displayed document format diagram (step S4). If a keyword has been input, the keyword is input from the input position. Judge the element that has changed. Interface module 3
Creates a query from the input keywords and passes it to the search engine 4 (step S5). Search engine 4
Retrieves the contents of the element to be searched in the document DB 7 by the query passed from the interface module 3 to obtain the target document (step S6).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to input a keyword for a plurality of elements. When keywords are input for a plurality of elements, the interface module 3 searches the input keywords and search conditions (OR search or
AND search), or, as shown in FIG. 4, display a search condition input screen to prompt the user to make a selection, and create a query from the selected search condition and the entered keyword. I do.

For example, when the keyword “estimate” is entered in the “title” element and the keyword “Fujitaro” is entered in the “in charge” element and an AND search is performed,
The document in which the character string "estimate" is included in the "title" element and the character string "Fujitaro" is included in the "in charge" element is searched. When performing an OR search with the above input, a document in which the character string "estimate" is included in the element "title" or the character string "Fujitaro" is included in the element "in charge" is searched.

FIG. 4 shows an input example in the case where a link indicating the relationship (and, or) between elements is designated as another link in the specification of the search condition. The keyword “accounting” is input in the “destination” element, the keyword “accounting” is input in the “source” element, the keyword “estimate” is input in the “title” element, and the keyword “Fujitaro” is input in the “charge” element.

Buttons, menus, and the like are displayed in order to allow the user to select one of “AND search”, “OR search”, and “composite search” based on the input keyword. Further, in the “composite search”, a button, a menu, and the like are displayed for allowing the user to select one of “AND link” and “OR link”.

For example, the user selects “combined search” and “AND link” such as buttons and menus, and
When the "source", "title", and "charge" elements are specified, these elements are connected by, for example, a solid line, and it is displayed that an AND link has been set. Next, when the user selects “OR link” and designates the solid line of the AND link and the “destination” element by the pointer P, the solid line of the AND link and the “destination” element are connected by, for example, a broken line, and the OR link is connected. Is displayed.

As a result of the above setting, the character string "accounting" is included in the "source" element, the character string "estimate" is included in the "title" element, and the character string "Fujitaro" is included in the "charge" element. Is created, or a query is created to search for documents that contain the string "Accounting" in the "destination" element.

Further, as a search condition, a "simple search" in which only an element for which a keyword is input is to be searched.
Alternatively, it is possible to select "hierarchical search" in which an element in a lower hierarchy of the element is also included in the search target.

The selection method of the search condition is not limited to the menu and the button, but other selection methods such as character input and number selection are also possible. Also, in compound search
The method of expressing the distinction between the AND link and the OR link is not limited to a method using a line type such as a solid line or a broken line, but may be another method such as changing the color of the line or displaying the character with AND / OR. Furthermore, it is not always necessary to display.

Next, a case where only the element structure information is used in the method of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of keyword input in FIG. 5, the flowchart of FIG. 6, and the diagram of keyword input example in FIG. As described above, the interface module 3 reads the DTD of the SGML document stored in the document DB 7 and displays a list of the highest hierarchy of the tree structure such as “report” and “letter”. Is displayed in a list format (step S1
1).

The user determines a DTD that matches the type of the document to be searched from among the DTDs displayed in a list on the screen (step S12). At this time, the interface module 3 identifies, for example, whether the character string of “report” is clicked or the mark provided in the column of “report” indicating that a lower hierarchy exists is clicked. It is determined whether an element has been selected (step S13). If the mark in the element column is clicked, the element names (tag names) of “destination”, “title”,... In the lower hierarchy of “report” are displayed in a list format (step S14).

As in the case of the “report” layer, the element is selected by identifying whether the character string of the element of the lower layer has been clicked or the mark provided in the element column has been clicked. It is determined whether or not it has been performed (step S13). For example, when the mark in the column of the "body" element is clicked, a tag list of a lower hierarchy is displayed (step S14).

On the other hand, when the character string of the element is clicked, a keyword input screen is displayed, and the cursor blinks to wait for a keyword input (step S1).
Five). When the keyword is input, it is checked whether or not a search start has been instructed (step S16). If the search has not been instructed, the process returns to step S13 to wait for the next input from the user.

As in the case described above, for example, buttons, menus, and the like are displayed in order to allow the user to select one of “AND search”, “OR search”, and “composite search” based on the input keyword. Further, in the “composite search”, a button, a menu, and the like are displayed for allowing the user to select one of “AND link” and “OR link”. In addition, as in the case described above, as the search condition, select either “simple search”, which searches only the element for which the keyword is input, or “hierarchical search”, which includes the elements of the lower hierarchy of the element as the search target. You can also do it.

When the start of the search is instructed, the interface module 3 creates a query from the input keyword (step S17) and passes it to the search engine 4. The search engine 4 receives the query from the interface module 3 according to the query. Then, the contents of the element to be searched in the document DB 7 are searched to obtain the target document (step S18).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to input a keyword for a plurality of elements. When keywords are input for a plurality of elements, the interface module 3 searches the input keywords and search conditions (OR search or
AND search) or, as shown in FIG. 7, a search condition input screen is displayed to prompt the user to make a selection, and a query is created from the selected search condition and the entered keyword. I do.

When the keyword search as shown in FIG. 7 selects the AND search and the simplex search, the character string “Accounting” is included in the “Report” element, and the character string “Estimate” is included in the “Title” element. A query is created to search for documents that are included and that contain the string “FMV” in the “body” element.

When the OR search and the simple search are selected by the keyword input as shown in FIG. 7, the character string "Accounting" is included in the "Report" element, or the "Title"
A query is created to search for documents whose element contains the string "estimate" or whose "body" element contains the string "FMV". In addition, AND, OR, and a regular expression can be described in the keyword given to each element.

When AND search and hierarchical search are selected in the keyword input as shown in FIG. 7, the character string "Accounting" is included in the element below the "Report" element, and the character string is included in the "Title" element. A query is created to search for a document that includes “estimate” and that has the character string “FMV” in an element below the “body” element.

As described above, in the case of this example, since the element structure diagram is displayed in the order of the hierarchy, even for a large structured document that cannot display the element structure on one screen, Keywords can be given smoothly to the elements.

Next, another case in which only the element structure information is used in the method of the present invention will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of keyword input in FIG. 8, the flowchart in FIG. 9, and the example of keyword input in FIG. As before,
The interface module 3 reads out the DTD of the SGML document stored in the document DB 7 and “reports”
List the elements at the top level of the tree structure, such as "letter".

The user determines a DTD that matches the type of the document to be searched from among the DTDs displayed in a list on the screen (step S21). The DSSSL engine 8 reads from the style sheet DB 9 a style sheet that defines the determined DTD, in this example, the rules for forming a document of “report”, generates a flow object, and generates a “report” as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display device 1 (step S22).

According to this structural diagram, even if the user does not know the document structure, the "report" can be converted to "destination", "source"
It can be understood that it is composed of elements of "title", "body" and "charge", and that "body" is composed of elements of "summary" and "details".

The interface module 3 checks whether a search start has been instructed (step S23). If the search start has not been instructed, the interface module 3 waits for a selection input for an element of the displayed structural diagram (step S24). When any one of the elements is selected, a keyword input screen is displayed in association with the selected element, and the cursor blinks to wait for a keyword input (step S).
twenty five).

When the keyword is input, it is checked whether or not the start of the search has been instructed (step S23). If the start of the search has not been instructed, a selection input for the displayed element of the structural drawing is awaited (step S23). S24). When any one of the elements is selected, a keyword input screen is displayed in association with the selected element, and the cursor blinks to wait for a keyword input (step S).
twenty five).

When the start of the search is instructed, the interface module 3 creates a query from the input keyword and passes it to the search engine 4 (step S26). Then, the contents of the element to be searched in the document DB 7 are searched to obtain the target document (step S27).

As in the case described above, for example, buttons, menus, and the like are displayed to allow the user to select one of “AND search”, “OR search”, and “composite search” based on the input keyword. Further, in the “composite search”, a button, a menu, and the like are displayed for allowing the user to select one of “AND link” and “OR link”.

As in the case described above, as a search condition, a “simple search” in which only an element for which a keyword is input is a search target, or a “hierarchical search” in which an element of a lower hierarchy of the element is also included in the search target You can also choose whether or not. In addition, AND, OR, and a regular expression can be described in the keyword given to each element.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to input a keyword for a plurality of elements. When keywords are input for a plurality of elements, the interface module 3 searches the input keywords and search conditions (OR search or
AND search), or create a query from the selected search condition and the entered keyword by prompting the user to display a search condition input screen as shown in Fig. 10. I do.

When the keyword search as shown in FIG. 10 selects AND search or simplex search, the character string "estimate" is included in the "title" element, and the character string "Fujitaro" is included in the "charge" element. A query is created to search for documents containing. When OR search and simple search are selected by keyword input as shown in Fig. 10, the character string "Estimate" is included in the "Title" element, or the character string "Fujitaro" is A query is created to search for contained documents.

A menu screen may be provided to allow the user to select one of the above-described keyword inputs.

[0055]

As described above, the retrieval method, retrieval system, and recording medium for the structured document database of the present invention show the schema of the document structure of the structured document to the user using the element names, and display the elements on the schema. Since the search is performed with respect to the element in which the user inputs a keyword for the name, even when a structured document whose document structure is unknown to the user is searched, the search target element is specified and the keyword for the element is specified. Is easy to input, and an excellent effect that search can be performed in a short time is achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of keyword input using style information.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a search method according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of keyword input using style information.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) of keyword input using structure information.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a search method according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of keyword input using the structure information of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) of keyword input using structure information.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a search method according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of keyword input using the structure information of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a structured document.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display device 2 Input device 3 Interface module 4 Search engine 5 SGML parser 6 Entity manager 7 Document DB 8 DSSSL engine 9 Stylesheet DB

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A structured document in which the names of elements constituting a document and the hierarchical structure of the elements are defined, and a document shaping rule defining a method of displaying the content of the element in the document is associated is structurally divided. In a search method for a structured document database stored and stored, a document format diagram defining a layout position of the content of an element is displayed, an input of a keyword associated with the layout position of the document format diagram is received, and the keyword is input. A structured document database search method comprising: identifying an element to be searched based on a layout position specified; searching for the content of the identified element based on an input keyword; and acquiring a document. 2. A retrieval method for a structured document database in which a structured document in which a name of an element constituting a document and a hierarchical structure of the element are defined is divided and stored in a structured manner. The element name to be displayed is displayed together with the display information of the lower hierarchy information, and the specification of the hierarchy at which the element name is to be displayed, which is located at a lower hierarchy than the displayed element name, is received. The keyword is displayed together with the information indicating the hierarchical relationship, an input of a keyword corresponding to the displayed element name is received, the element to be searched is identified by the element name in which the keyword is input, and the identified element is determined based on the input keyword. Structured document database characterized by searching contents of documents and acquiring documents retrieval method. 3. A retrieval method for a structured document database in which a structured document in which the names of elements constituting a document and the hierarchical structure of the elements are defined is divided and stored in a structured manner. A structure diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the elements is displayed by using the element names of all the elements constituting the containing document, an input of a keyword corresponding to the element name of the structure diagram is received, and the element name in which the keyword is input A structured document database search method characterized in that an element to be searched is identified by using a keyword, and the content of the identified element is searched based on an input keyword to obtain a document. 4. A structured document in which a name of an element constituting a document and a hierarchical structure of the element are defined, and a document forming rule defining a display method of the content of the element in the document is associated, is structurally divided. In a search method for a structured document database that has been stored in the form, a keyword input method is specified, and a document format diagram that specifies the layout position of element contents is displayed according to the specified input method. An input of a keyword corresponding to the layout position in the figure is received, an element to be searched is identified by the layout position where the keyword is input, or an element name belonging to a predetermined hierarchy is displayed together with information indicating the hierarchical relationship. The displayed element names and information indicating their hierarchical relationship Receiving the designation of the hierarchy at which the element name is to be displayed, displaying the element name of the designated hierarchy together with the information indicating the hierarchical relationship, accepting the input of the keyword corresponding to the displayed element name, The search target element is identified by the input element name, or a structure diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the element is displayed by using the element names of all the elements constituting the document including the search target element, and The keyword input corresponding to the element name in the figure is accepted, the element to be searched is identified by the element name in which the keyword is input, and the content of the element identified by the specified input method is determined based on the input keyword. A structured document database characterized by searching and acquiring documents Source search method. 5. The structured document database search method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the identified element, an element belonging to a lower hierarchy of the element is to be searched. 6. When there are a plurality of elements to be searched, A
6. The structured document database search method according to claim 1, wherein the search is performed under one of an ND search and an OR search. 7. When there are a plurality of elements to be searched, A
The structured document database search method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the specification of the ND search and / or the OR search is received, and the search is executed under the specified search conditions. 8. The structured document in which the names of the elements constituting the document and the hierarchical structure of the elements are defined, and the document shaping rules that define the method of displaying the contents of the elements in the document are associated is structurally divided. Means for displaying a document format diagram defining a layout position of the content of an element, and means for receiving an input of a keyword associated with the layout position of the document format diagram in a retrieval system for a structured document database stored and stored. Means for identifying an element to be searched based on a layout position where a keyword is input, and means for searching the content of the identified element based on the input keyword and acquiring a document. Structured document database search system. 9. In a structured document database search system in which a structured document in which the names of elements constituting a document and the hierarchical structure of elements are defined and divided and stored is structurally located at a predetermined level. Means for displaying the element name to be displayed together with the display information of the lower hierarchy information, means for receiving the designation of the hierarchy at which the element name is to be displayed, which is located at a hierarchy lower than the displayed element name, and Means for displaying an element name together with information indicating its hierarchical relationship, means for receiving an input of a keyword associated with the displayed element name, means for identifying an element to be searched by the element name to which the keyword has been input, Search for the content of the identified element based on the entered keyword and obtain a document Means for searching a structured document database. 10. In a structured document database search system in which a structured document in which the names of elements constituting a document and the hierarchical structure of the elements are defined is divided and stored structurally, an element to be searched is Means for displaying a structural diagram showing the hierarchical structure of the elements using the element names of all the elements constituting the containing document; means for receiving an input of a keyword associated with the element name of the structural diagram; A structured document database comprising: means for identifying an element to be searched based on the element name obtained; and means for searching the content of the identified element based on an input keyword and acquiring a document. Search system. 11. A structured document in which a name of an element constituting a document and a hierarchical structure of the element are defined, and a document forming rule defining a display method of the content of the element in the document is associated, is structurally divided. A computer-readable program code means for executing a search on the structured document database stored and stored, and in a recording medium usable by the computer, wherein the program code means comprises: Code means for causing the computer to display a document format diagram defining a layout position of the content of the element; code means for causing the computer to receive an input of a keyword associated with the layout position of the document format diagram; The keyword entered in the Recording means for identifying an element to be searched by an out position, and code means for causing the computer to search for the content of the identified element based on an input keyword to obtain a document. Medium. 12. A computer for executing a search on a structured document database in which a structured document in which the names of elements constituting a document and a hierarchical structure of the elements are defined is divided and stored in a structured manner. A computer-readable recording medium storing readable program code means, wherein the program code means stores, in the computer, an element name located in a predetermined hierarchy, and lower hierarchy information thereof. Code means for displaying together with display information of the following; code means for causing the computer to accept designation of a hierarchy at which an element name is to be displayed, which is located in a hierarchy lower than the displayed element name; and Code that displays the element name of the Code means for causing the computer to receive an input of a keyword associated with the displayed element name; code means for causing the computer to identify an element to be searched by the element name for which the keyword has been input; and , Based on the keywords entered,
Code means for causing the contents of the identified element to be retrieved and to obtain a document. 13. A computer for executing a search on a structured document database in which a structured document in which a name of an element constituting a document and a hierarchical structure of the element are defined is structurally divided and stored. In a recording medium which stores readable program code means and which can be used in the computer, the program code means stores, in the computer, elements of all elements constituting a document including an element to be searched By name
Code means for displaying a structural diagram showing a hierarchical structure of elements; code means for causing the computer to receive an input of a keyword associated with an element name of the structural diagram; and an element name for which the keyword has been input to the computer. A recording medium, comprising: code means for identifying an element to be searched by the computer; and code means for causing the computer to search for the content of the identified element based on an input keyword to obtain a document.