JPH10307771A - Electronic mail processor and record medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate operation for selecting a file of a mail by adding discrimination information including a kind and a state to the file name of each mail file and storing them altogether in one storage area, and displaying information regarding respective mail files according to the discrimination information on the respective mail files. SOLUTION: Files of transmit mails and receive mails are stored in a file data storage part 2, and for the respective files, extensions representing kinds and states are added to the file names. When a mail processing part 1 is actuated with an indication from an input part 4, a list display part 10 reads the file names of the respective mail files stored in the file data storage part 2 together with their extensions and lists the file names on the screen of a display part 3. Thus, only one file storage area is used to facilitate the operation and prevent wrong operation, and the files are easily selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an electronic mail processing device and a recording medium. 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in information processing apparatuses such as personal computers and word processors, transmission and reception of electronic mail have been actively performed. The e-mail is stored as a file, a plurality of file names for transmission or reception are displayed, and necessary processing is performed on a file selected from among them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional communication software such as e-mail software manages mail files as follows.

[0003] Outgoing mail files are stored in a directory provided for transmission, and received mails are stored in a directory provided for received files. When processing a file for transmission in response to a user operation, a directory for transmission is accessed to list the files for transmission on a display device, and one file is selected from the list. If the file is opened and the file is in the transmission reservation state, the transmission can be executed, the reservation can be canceled or updated, and the necessary processing can be performed on the already transmitted file. Can be.

When a process is performed on a file for reception, a directory for the received file is accessed, and a list of files of each stored mail is displayed.
When one of these files is selected, the file is opened, and the contents of the unread file are displayed according to the user's operation, and processing such as copying to another device is performed. For such a file, processing such as registration, processing such as reply and transfer to another destination can be performed.

[0005]

When the above-mentioned conventional mail file is selected and processed, the file for transmission and the file for reception are stored in separate directories (storage areas) and managed. Therefore, each file must be switched and called, and all the files for sending and receiving mail cannot be displayed in a list. Also, for each file, there is an executable function corresponding to the type. For example, for received files, in the case of read status, reply or transfer to another destination may be executed, but for all files regardless of the status such as unread or read. Since a similar function can be executed, there is a problem in that an erroneous process that does not conform to the state may be selected and executed by the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic mail processing apparatus and a storage medium which can simplify an operation for selecting a mail file.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a mail processing unit, 10 is a list display unit, 11 is a file name check unit, 12 is an application unit that executes various functions for files,
Reference numeral 2 denotes a file data storage unit which is an area for storing a plurality of mail files collectively, 3 denotes a display unit, and 4 denotes an input unit.

According to the present invention, an outgoing mail file and an incoming mail file are stored in one storage area, and an extension indicating the type, status, etc. of the mail is set and saved in each file name. When a file is displayed and selected, a function that can be selected for the file is displayed, and the displayed function can be instructed and executed.

The file data storage unit 2 stores outgoing mail and received mail files. Each file together with the file name (title) and the type of sending / receiving,
Extensions indicating the type of communication method and the status of the mail (sent, reserved for transmission, unread, read, etc.) are added. Input unit 4
When the mail processing unit 1 is started in response to an instruction from the user, the file name of each mail file stored in the file data storage unit 2 is read out by the list display unit 10 together with its extension and displayed on the screen of the display unit 3. A list of file names is displayed. When the operator designates one of the files by the input unit 4, the file name check unit 11 checks the selected file name (including the extension). This check detects and selects (executes) the type of mail (sending / receiving, network type, etc.) and the state of the mail (sending reservation, sent, unread, read, etc.) included in the extension.
The possible functions are identified, and the selectable functions are displayed on the display unit 3 together with the file names. When one of the displayed functions is selected by the input unit 4, an application corresponding to the selected function is activated for the application unit 12. The file operated by the execution of the application unit 12 is stored in the file data storage unit 2.

A mail file having an extension added to the file name is provided with an area for storing the mail file in a single file. The list is displayed, the file name is checked, selectable functions are displayed, and selection is performed. The program for activating the function can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0011]

FIG. 2 is an example of a hardware configuration diagram for implementing the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a processor, 21 denotes a memory, 22 denotes a communication device connected to a LAN or a public line for sending and receiving mail, 23 denotes an input device including a mouse and a keyboard, and 24 denotes a CRT and a liquid crystal panel. Display device. Although not shown, an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or a floppy disk is also connected.

In response to an instruction or input from the input device 23, the processor 20 executes a corresponding program control, inputs data and outputs the data to the display device 24, and controls the communication device 22 to transmit and receive mail. Do through. The memory 21 has a mail file 210, an editing file,
An application program 211 for creating, updating, transferring, referencing, etc. of mail is stored.
Reference numeral 10 stores data such as a file name and size for each mail file. Further, the mail file 210 and the application program 211 stored in the memory 21 may be stored in an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or a floppy disk.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the data structure of the file name of the mail file according to the present invention.
Stored in one storage area (for example, a directory). Each mail file has an extension added to the file name. In this example, the extension is composed of three characters, and the first to third characters are represented by X, Y, and Z. The first letter X represents the distinction between sending and receiving mail, S represents sent mail, and R represents received mail. The second letter Y represents the type of the network transmitting the mail, N represents the personal computer communication, I represents the Internet, and the absence of this item (not using this item) indicates that it is on hold (not determined). .

Z in the third character indicates the status, and 0 indicates unsent (in the case of outgoing mail) or unread (in the case of received mail).
And 2 indicates sent (in the case of sent mail) or read (in the case of received mail), and when there is no mail, it indicates holding.
These extensions are automatically set by the program 211 (including the type of network) at each stage when a transmission reservation is made and when transmission is executed for a transmission file. Also for the received file,
The corresponding extension is automatically set by the operation when reading the mail when the mail is automatically received.

The three characters having the above-mentioned extensions are not limited to the characters of this example, and any characters may be used as long as they do not overlap. FIG. 4 is a processing flow for selecting a mail file, and describes processing executed by the processor 20 in response to a user operation using the input device 23.

When mail processing is first selected by the user operating the input device 23, each mail file stored in a predetermined area of the memory 21 is read out and displayed in a list on the display unit (3 in FIG. 1) (FIG. 1). S1 in FIG. 4). The display format includes information such as transmission / reception distinction represented by the file name and extension of each mail, network type and status (unread, read, transmission reservation, transmitted), and management information such as file size. Is also displayed. When one file is selected from the displayed information by using the mouse or keyboard of the input device 23 (S2), the file name check unit is activated (S3).

The file name checking unit checks the extension of the selected file name, and displays the contents of the file on the display device together with the functions that can be selected according to the check result (S4). One of the displayed functions that the operator wants to execute is input device 23.
Then, the corresponding function is executed for the selected file.

The processing contents of the file name check unit (step S3) in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. FIG. 5 is a processing flow of a file name check, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show display examples (part 1) corresponding to files.
(Part 2).

When the file name check operates, it is determined whether or not a mail file corresponding to the selected mail is stored (S1 in FIG. 5). If there is no mail file, only the "create" function is generated as a selectable function. (S2). In this case, the screen of the file of the display device displays A.P. As shown in the figure, only "Create" is displayed at the bottom of the screen as a selectable function. FIG. In the screen of, the creation of the mail is executed by designating the function of "compose" by the input device. The file name of the created file is automatically generated from the date information and the creation order information.

If there is a mail file, the first character (X) of the extension of the selected file is identified to determine whether the mail is a transmission mail (X = S) (S3 in FIG. 5).
If it is not an outgoing mail, the functions of "create", "reference", "reply" and "forward" are generated as identification outputs (S4 in FIG. 5). That is, since it is not an outgoing mail, functions such as creating a new mail, simply referring to the contents of the mail, creating a reply mail to the received mail, and transferring the received mail to another device can be executed. .

In this case, the file concerned is referred to as B.B. As shown in the example, these functions can be selected and displayed at the bottom of the file screen of the display device. B. of FIG. In the example, the extension of the file name column is "RI
0 ", and according to the definition of the extension shown in FIG.
This means "received mail, Internet, read status", and the date, address, type (INT indicates the Internet), and the title of the mail are displayed as "contents of file" on the displayed screen. The operator is shown in FIG.
B. By instructing one of the selectable functions displayed in (1) by the input device, the corresponding function is executed.

If the mail file is an outgoing mail,
Whether the third character (Z) of the extension has been identified and transmitted (Z
= 2) is determined (S5 in FIG. 5). If not transmitted, the functions of "create" and "update" are generated as identification outputs (S6 in FIG. 5).

In this case, this file is referred to as A.D. Is displayed on the display device. In FIG. In the example, the extension of the file name column is "SI
0 ", which means" transmit, internet, untransmitted ". At this time, the function of "create" or "update" can be selected.

If the data has been transmitted, the functions of "create", "reference" and "transfer" are generated as identification outputs (S7 in FIG. 5). In this case, FIG. Is displayed on the display device. B. of FIG. In the example, the extension of the file name column is “SI2”, which indicates “send, Internet, unsent”, and “Create”, “Browse”, and “Transfer” are displayed as selectable functions.

The processing flow of FIG. In the above example, a file having a three-digit extension is selected. However, in this example, a mail file having a one- or two-digit extension also exists. Even when these mail files are selected, in order to specify a selectable function, it is sufficient to check the character of each digit of the extension of the selected mail file to identify the type and status.

As described above, by selecting a file and using the extension of the mail file name, functions executable for the file are displayed, and a desired function can be selected from the displayed functions.

As the selectable functions, the functions of creation, update, reference, reply, and transfer have been described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Function of "Copy" and "Release reservation" for unsent files, and "Address registration" and "Copy to note" for received read or unread mail files. Can be.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the file storage area is
In addition, by switching the functions that can be selected by checking the file name, the operation can be simplified, an erroneous operation can be prevented, and the file can be easily selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration in which the present invention is implemented.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of a file name of a mail file according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a processing flow of mail file selection.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing flow of a file name check.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example (part 1) corresponding to a file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display example (part 2) corresponding to a file.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 mail processing unit 10 list display unit 11 file name check unit 12 application unit 2 file data storage unit 3 display unit 4 input unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An electronic mail processing apparatus using a mail file, wherein identification information including a type and a status is added to a file name of each mail file, and the information is collected and stored in one storage area of a file data storage unit. An e-mail processing device, comprising: means for causing the display unit to display information on each mail file based on the identification information of each mail file read from the storage area. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means for selecting information on the displayed mail file; and means for displaying a selectable function according to the identification information of the selected mail file. The electronic mail processing device according to claim 1. 3. The electronic mail processing device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information includes information of a mail sending / receiving type, a network type, and a mail processing state. 4. The electronic mail processing device according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is an extension of a file. 5. A procedure for causing a computer to add identification information including a type and a state to a file name of each mail file, collectively store the mail file in one storage area of a file data storage unit, and read out from the storage area. A procedure for displaying information about each mail file on the display unit based on the identification information of each mail file, a procedure for selecting the information about the displayed mail file, and a procedure for responding to the identification information of the selected mail file. And a computer-readable recording medium for recording a procedure for displaying selectable functions and a program for executing the procedure.