JPH117521A - Filing method and device for electronic document - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the need of memorizing the operation of a dedicated application and to register electronic documents prepared by any applications by performing the processing of registering and updating the electronic document by a printer driver without using the dedicated application. SOLUTION: When printing data and attribute information are inputted from the application 20 to a control part 11, the printing data are outputted to an image generation part 12, converted into the printing data there and returned to the control part 11. The control part 11 outputs the attribute information to a registration/updating judgement part 15 and the dialog of registration and updating is displayed at a display device 30 there. When a user instructs new registration through an input device 40, an ID generation part 13 newly generates an ID and outputs it to the control part 11 and a storage management part 16 receives the ID and printing images from the control part 11 and the attribute information from the registration/updating judgement part 15, relates the attribute information and ID to the printing images and registers (preserves) them in a storage 60.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for filing an electronic document, and more particularly, to a method and an apparatus for filing an electronic document which can easily register and update an electronic document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the development of information processing apparatuses, document processing apparatuses, and the like, the use of electronic documents has increased, and the use forms of documents have also diversified.

FIG. 8 shows the life cycle of a document.

In each of the steps shown in FIG. 8, steps indicated by solid lines indicate an electronic document, and steps indicated by broken lines indicate a document printed on paper.

The document created by the creator (step 1001) is stored on a storage such as a hard disk or in a document registration server (step 1001).
2), distribution by e-mail (step 1003), and printing on paper (step 1004).

[0006] The document saved in step 1002 may be reused by the creator.
The document printed on the paper is copied as necessary (step 1005) and distributed as a paper document (step 1005).
6) or stored (step 1007).

On the other hand, the person who obtained the electronic document distributed by e-mail in step 1003 (step 101
1) Read the received document (step 1012), print (step 1013) or save (step 1014) as necessary, and transfer it to another person using e-mail (step 1015).

The document printed on paper in step 1013 is distributed as a paper document (step 1016) or stored (step 1017), and the document stored in step 1014 is reused as necessary (step 1010).
18).

[0009] Further, the person who has obtained the document transferred in step 1015 performs the processing in step 1011 and subsequent steps in the same manner.

As described above, an electronic document can be easily reused in addition to creation, printing, distribution, storage, etc., and a document can be used more effectively than a paper document.

However, when obtaining a stored electronic document, a keyword or the like is input to search for the document, and the stored electronic document is obtained from the result of the search.

Therefore, when registering an electronic document,
This involves tasks such as adding keywords so that later searches can be performed. When updating stored documents, tasks such as searching and adding keywords are involved, and document registration is performed. And the work of updating becomes complicated.

As described above, the electronic document can be easily reused, but the work of registering the document is complicated.
Devices for easily registering electronic documents have been proposed.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-76042 and the like include means for switching between printing and filing a document created by a word processor or the like, so that when filing is selected, document data is filed. There is proposed an electronic filing system that can store documents easily and with high quality by configuring the electronic filing system.

However, in this electronic filing system, there is no means for easily acquiring a registered document or a means for easily specifying an update target when updating a registered document.

[0016]

As described above, an electronic document is in a document form that can be easily reused, but when a registered electronic document is obtained, it is necessary to perform operations such as retrieval. In addition, when registering a document, it is necessary to add information such as a keyword in preparation for a later search.

When updating an already registered document, it is necessary to perform a search or the like to specify a document to be updated, or to add or update information such as a keyword as necessary. There was a problem.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for registering and updating a document,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for filing an electronic document that does not involve complicated work when obtaining the electronic document.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic document filing method for registering and managing an electronic document created by an application in a storage. While converting the image into an image, if the registration is a new registration for newly registering the electronic document, a unique identification code is issued to the newly registered electronic document, and the identification code is associated with the print image. Registering in the storage, in the case of update registration of the electronic document whose registration has already been registered, registering the electronic document with reference to the identification code associated with the electronic document to be updated Features.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the print image is printed with the identification code added when the registration is performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the printing position of the identification code is a predetermined position on a sheet of paper, and a blank space on the sheet of paper caused by reducing and printing the print image. The print image is selected from any of a blank position generated by adding a new page to a page on which the print image is printed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the switching between the new registration and the update registration is performed manually based on a manual switching mode, and based on a document name or attribute of the electronic document. The selection is made from any one of the automatic switching modes in which switching is performed with

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the update registration discards an existing print image registered in association with the identification code to be updated and newly registers the print image. Replacement update mode for replacing a print image to be replaced, an additional update mode for registering a newly registered print image in association with the identification code to be updated, and associating the existing print image as an old version, The print image to be registered is selected from a new registration type update mode in which the print image is registered in association with a new identification code as a new version corresponding to the identification code to be updated.

Further, according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the identification code is displayed on a screen or a file is generated at the time of the registration.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic document filing apparatus for registering and managing an electronic document created by an application in a storage, wherein the print image converting means converts the electronic document into a print image, Registration switching means for switching between new registration for newly registering the electronic document and update registration for updating the already registered electronic document, identification code issuing means for issuing an identification code unique to the electronic document, When new registration is selected by the registration switching means, the identification code issued by the identification code issuing means is associated with the print image when converted by the print image conversion means, and the print image is newly registered in the storage, When update registration is selected by the registration switching means, the update related to the electronic document to be updated is Characterized by comprising a registration means for the updated registered under a different code.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the seventh aspect, when performing the registration, the identification code is imaged and added to the print image converted by the print image conversion means. And printing means for printing the print image to which the identification code has been added by the identification code adding means.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect of the present invention, the identification code adding means includes: a predetermined position on the paper; a blank position on the paper caused by reducing and printing the print image; And adding the identification code to a position selected from any of the blank positions generated by adding a new page to the page on which the print image is printed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the invention, the registration switching means has an automatic switching mode for automatically switching based on the document name or attribute of the electronic document. .

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the registration unit is configured to register the existing print image registered in association with the identification code to be updated at the time of the update registration. , And replaces the newly registered print image with the print image to be registered, registers the newly registered print image and the identification code to be updated in association with each other, and associates the existing print image as an old version. And a new registration type update mode for registering a newly registered print image in association with a new identification code as a new version corresponding to the identification code to be updated. .

Further, a twelfth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, an identification code notifying means for notifying the identification code by screen display or file generation is further provided.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a method and an apparatus for filing an electronic document according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic document filing apparatus.

In FIG. 1, an electronic document filing apparatus 100 uses a computer such as a personal computer, and a printer driver 1 for printing and registering a document.
0, application 2 such as word processor to create documents
0, a display device 30 such as a display for displaying information to the user, an input device 40 such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a scanner for inputting information by the user, a printer 50 for printing documents, and a hard disk as a registration destination of the documents And the like.

The printer driver 10 includes a control unit 11 for controlling each unit in the printer driver 10, an image generation unit 12 for converting print data input from the application 20 into a print image, and an ID added to a document when registering the document. ID generation unit 13 for generating (identification code), user information input / output unit 1 for managing and converting information displayed on display device 30 and information input from input device 40
4. Registration to determine whether to newly register or update the document
Update determination unit 15, storage management unit 16 that manages input and output of images to storage 60, image generation unit 1
An ID adding unit 17 for converting the print image converted in step 2 into an image of the ID generated by the ID generation unit 13 and synthesizing the image,
The printer output unit 18 sends the print image combined with the ID by the D adding unit 17 to the printer 50.

The operation of each unit at the time of registering and updating a document will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of each unit when a document is registered and updated.

Now, the electronic document filing apparatus 100 starts a document registration or update operation (step 20).
1) When the print data and the attribute information are input from the application 20 to the control unit 11 of the printer driver 10 (YES in step 202), the control unit 11 outputs the print data to the image generation unit 12, and outputs the print data to the image generation unit 12. Converts this into print data and returns it to the control unit 11 (step 203).

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether the registration / update
The registration / update determination unit 15 displays a dialog for selecting registration and update on the display device 30 via the user information input / output unit (step 204).

Here, if the user instructs new registration via input device 40 (YES in step 205), ID
The generation unit 13 newly generates an ID and outputs it to the control unit 11 (Step 206), and the storage management unit 16
1 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15, and the attribute information and the ID are included in the print image.
Is registered (saved) in the storage 60 (step 207).

On the other hand, if the user instructs to update the document in step 205 (NO in step 205), the registration / update judging unit 15 outputs the attribute information to the storage management unit 16, and the storage management unit 16 converts the attribute information into the attribute information. Based ID
Is obtained, and the list is displayed on the display device 20 to prompt the user to select and input an ID (step 2).
08).

When the user inputs the ID to be updated, the storage management unit 16 receives the ID and print image from the control unit 11 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15,
The document already registered in the storage 60 is updated by associating the attribute information and the ID with the print image (step 209).

The document is updated by a first update method for discarding an existing print image and replacing it with a new print image;
A second update method for registering a new print image in association with an ID to be updated and further registering an existing print image as an old version and registering the new print image in association with a new ID At the same time, there is a third update method for associating and registering as a new version of the ID to be updated, and these are selected by the setting of the user.

When the registration or update of the document is completed, the print image and the ID are sent from the control unit 11 to the ID addition unit 17, and the ID addition unit 17 converts the input ID into a predetermined format and combines it with the print image. (Step 210).

At this time, the format in which the ID is converted is a character string notation readable by the user or a code such as a bar code readable by a machine.

When the combination of the ID and the print image is completed,
The combined image is printed by the printer 50 via the printer output unit 18 (step 211), and registration of the document is performed.
The updating process ends (step 212).

Since search and update of the registered document are performed based on the ID added to the document, step 21 is executed.
It is necessary to input the ID printed together with the document printed in step 1 into the electronic document filing apparatus 100.

When the ID is input to the electronic document filing device 100, if the ID is described as a character string, the user can input the ID from the keyboard (input device 40) or use the scanner (input device 40) to input the ID. (Character string) is read, and the read / image is subjected to OCR processing, whereby the registration / update determination unit 15 recognizes the ID.

When the ID is represented by a code such as a bar code, this code is input to the scanner (input device 4).
0), the encoded ID is decoded from the read image, and the registration / update determination unit 15 recognizes it.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the printing position of the ID.

In FIG. 3, a print document 300 shows a print image when no ID is added.
10 is a print image to which an ID is added by the first method, a print document 320 is a print image to which an ID is added by the second method, and print documents 330 and 331 are print images to which an ID is added by the third method. I have.

The first method is to print an ID at a specific position on a sheet, for example, at the lower right of the sheet as shown in the print document 310. When this specific position is blank or when the original print image is If there is, the ID is overwritten and printed.

The second method is a method of reducing the original print image as shown in the print document 320 and printing the ID on the resulting blank portion.

In the third method, as shown in the print documents 330 and 331, a print image for one page is added to the original print image, and the ID is printed there.

The printing position of these IDs can be set by the user.

In the electronic document filing apparatus 100, it is possible to register and update a document without printing the document. In this case, the ID added to the document is described as a character string on the display device 20. Then, the user is notified or a file containing the ID is generated.

In the present embodiment, registration of a document,
The user has determined the update by displaying a dialog, but there are also a method of making a determination based on a document name, a method of separately registering and updating icons in advance, and a method of automatic determination.

Next, a description will be given of a second embodiment of the electronic document filing method and apparatus according to the present invention.

In the second embodiment, the above-described document registration and update are determined based on the document name. The configuration of the electronic document filing apparatus is the same as that of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of each unit when registering and updating a document in the second embodiment.

The electronic document filing apparatus 100 starts a document registration or update operation (step 40).
1) When the print data and the attribute information are input from the application 20 to the control unit 11 of the printer driver 10 (YES in step 402), the control unit 11 outputs the print data to the image generation unit 12, and the image generation unit 12 Converts it into print data and returns it to the control unit 11 (step 403).

Next, the control unit 11 determines whether the registration / update
The registration / update determination unit 15 determines whether this document is newly registered or updated from the character string pattern of the document name. For example, if the end of the document name is "update", an update process is selected for a predetermined character string, such as determining that the update has been performed (step 404).

Here, if the registration / update judging section 15 judges that the registration is new from the document name (YE in step 405).
S), the ID generation unit 13 newly generates an ID, and
1 (step 406), and the storage management unit 16
Receives the ID and the print image from the control unit 11 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15, associates the print image with the attribute information and the ID, and registers (saves) it in the storage 60 (step 407).

On the other hand, if the registration / update judging section 15 judges in step 405 that the update is based on the document name (step 4).
05, NO), the registration / update determination unit 15 outputs the attribute information to the storage management unit 16, obtains a list of IDs based on the attribute information from the storage management unit 16, and displays the list on the display device 20. Prompts the user to select and enter an ID (step 408).

When the user inputs the ID to be updated, the storage management unit 16 receives the ID and print image from the control unit 11 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15,
The document already registered in the storage 60 is updated by associating the attribute information and the ID with the print image (step 409).

The document is updated by a first update method for discarding an existing print image and replacing it with a new print image;
A second update method for registering a new print image in association with an ID to be updated and further registering an existing print image as an old version and registering the new print image in association with a new ID At the same time, there is a third update method for associating and registering as a new version of the ID to be updated, and these are selected by the setting of the user.

When the registration or update of the document is completed, the print image and the ID are sent from the control unit 11 to the ID addition unit 17, and the ID addition unit 17 converts the input ID into a predetermined format and synthesizes the print image with the print image. (Step 410).

At this time, the format in which the ID is converted is a character string notation readable by the user or a code such as a bar code readable by a machine.

When the combination of the ID and the print image is completed,
The synthesized image is printed by the printer 50 via the printer output unit 18 (step 411), and registration of the document,
The update process ends (step 412).

Also in the second embodiment, the ID is the first ID.
The printing is performed at a predetermined position by the method shown in FIG.

Further, I added to a document without printing
It is also possible to register and update the document by notifying the user by writing D as a character string on the display device 20 or generating a file containing the ID.

Next, a third embodiment of a method and apparatus for filing an electronic document according to the present invention will be described.

In the third embodiment, different icons are prepared for the above-described registration and update, and the registration and update of the document are switched by a user's instruction. The configuration of the electronic document filing apparatus is shown in FIG. Is the same as

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of each unit at the time of registering and updating a document in the third embodiment.

Now, the electronic document filing apparatus 100 starts a document registration or update operation (step 50).
1) When the user selects a registration icon (YES in step 502), print data and attribute information are input from the application 20 to the control unit 11 of the printer driver 10.

Next, the control unit 11 outputs the print data to the image generation unit 12, and the image generation unit 12 converts the print data into print data and returns the print data to the control unit 11 (step 50).
3), the ID generation unit 13 newly generates an ID and the control unit 1
1 (step 504), and the storage management unit 16
Receives the ID and the print image from the control unit 11 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15, associates the print image with the attribute information and the ID, and registers (saves) it in the storage 60 (step 505).

On the other hand, when the user selects the update icon (NO in step 502, YE in step 506)
S), print data and attribute information are input from the application 20 to the control unit 11 of the printer driver 10.

Next, the control unit 11 outputs the print data to the image generation unit 12, and the image generation unit 12 converts the print data into print data and returns the print data to the control unit 11 (step 50).
7) The registration / update judging unit 15 outputs the attribute information to the storage management unit 16, obtains a list of IDs based on the attribute information from the storage management unit 16, displays the list on the display device 20, and displays the list. Prompts the user to select and input an ID (step 508).

When the user inputs the ID to be updated, the storage management unit 16 receives the ID and print image from the control unit 11 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15.
The document already registered in the storage 60 is updated by associating the attribute information and the ID with the print image (step 509).

The document is updated by a first update method of discarding an existing print image and replacing it with a new print image,
A second update method for registering a new print image in association with an ID to be updated and further registering an existing print image as an old version and registering the new print image in association with a new ID At the same time, there is a third update method for associating and registering as a new version of the ID to be updated, and these are selected by the setting of the user.

When the registration or update of the document is completed, the print image and the ID are sent from the control section 11 to the ID addition section 17, and the ID addition section 17 converts the input ID into a predetermined format and synthesizes the print image. (Step 510).

At this time, the format in which the ID is converted is a character string notation readable by the user or a code such as a bar code readable by a machine.

When the combination of the ID and the print image is completed,
The combined image is printed by the printer 50 via the printer output unit 18 (step 511), and registration of the document,
The update processing ends (step 512).

In the third embodiment, the ID is the first
The printing is performed at a predetermined position by the method shown in FIG.

Further, I added to a document without printing
It is also possible to register and update the document by notifying the user by writing D as a character string on the display device 20 or generating a file containing the ID.

Next, a fourth embodiment of an electronic document filing method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

In the fourth embodiment, the above-described document registration and update are automatically determined, and the configuration of the electronic document filing apparatus is the same as that shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation of each section when registering and updating a document in the fourth embodiment.

Now, the electronic document filing apparatus 100 starts a document registration or update operation (step 60).
1) When the print data and the attribute information are input from the application 20 to the control unit 11 of the printer driver 10 (YES in Step 602), the control unit 11 outputs the print data to the image generation unit 12, and the image generation unit 12 Converts this into print data and returns it to the control unit 11 (step 603).

Next, the control unit 11 makes the registration / update judgment unit 15
The registration / update determination unit 15 inquires of the storage management unit 16 whether a document having the same attribute is registered in the storage 60 (step 604).
If a document having the same attribute is not registered in the storage 60 (NO in step 605), the registration / update determination unit 15 determines that the registration is new, and the ID generation unit 13 newly generates an ID, and the control unit 11 (Step 606), the storage management unit 16 receives the ID and the print image from the control unit 11, the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15, and associates the print image with the attribute information and the ID and registers the print image in the storage 60. (Save) (step 607).

On the other hand, if a document having the same attribute has been registered in the storage 60 at step 605 (YES at step 605), the registration / update judging unit 15 judges that the document has been updated, and a plurality of documents having the same attribute are registered. If the registration has been performed (YES in step 608), the registration / update determination unit 15 outputs the attribute information to the storage management unit 16, and the storage management unit 1
6 and obtains a list of IDs based on the attribute information, and displays the list on the display device 20 to prompt the user to select and input an ID (step 609).

If the user inputs an ID to be updated or if only one document having the same attribute is registered in step 608 (NO in step 608), only the ID or one document input by the user is registered. The storage management unit 16 receives the ID and the print image from the control unit 11 and the attribute information from the registration / update determination unit 15, and associates the print image with the attribute information and the ID to update the document having the same attribute. The document already registered in 60 is updated (step 610).

The document is updated by a first update method for discarding an existing print image and replacing it with a new print image,
A second update method for registering a new print image in association with an ID to be updated and further registering an existing print image as an old version and registering the new print image in association with a new ID At the same time, there is a third update method for associating and registering as a new version of the ID to be updated, and these are selected by the setting of the user.

When the registration or update of the document is completed, the print image and the ID are sent from the control section 11 to the ID addition section 17, and the ID addition section 17 converts the input ID into a predetermined format and synthesizes the print image. (Step 611).

At this time, the format in which the ID is converted is a character string notation readable by the user or a code such as a bar code readable by a machine.

When the combination of the ID and the print image is completed,
The combined image is printed by the printer 50 via the printer output unit 18 (step 612), and registration of the document,
The updating process ends (step 613).

Also in the fourth embodiment, the ID is the first
The printing is performed at a predetermined position by the method shown in FIG.

Also, I added to a document without printing
It is also possible to register and update the document by notifying the user by writing D as a character string on the display device 20 or generating a file containing the ID.

In the above-described first to fourth embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, an electronic document filing apparatus having an application 20 for creating a document and a storage 60 for registering the document in the same computer is provided. 100
Has been described, but a configuration may be adopted in which a client that creates a document and a document registration server that registers the document are connected via a network.

Here, a fifth embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

The fifth embodiment is an electronic document filing apparatus in which the above-mentioned user connects, via a network, a client computer for creating, updating and retrieving documents and a document registration server for registering documents.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic document filing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

In FIG. 7, the electronic document filing apparatus is configured by connecting a client 700 and a document registration server 800 via a network 900.

A client 700 includes a printer driver 710 for printing and registering a document, an application 720 such as a word processor for creating a document, a display device 730 such as a display for displaying information to a user, and a keyboard for the user to input information. And an input device 740 such as a mouse and a scanner, and a printer 750 for printing documents and the like.

A printer driver 710 controls a unit in the printer driver 710, an image generation unit 712 that converts print data input from the application 720 into a print image, and generates an ID to be added to a document when the document is registered. User information input / output unit 71 for managing and converting information displayed on the display device 730 and information input from the input device 740
4. Registration to determine whether to newly register or update the document
An update judging unit 715, an ID adding unit 717 that combines the print image converted by the image generating unit 712 with the ID generated by the ID generating unit 713, and synthesizes the ID.
The print image synthesized with the ID at 17 is sent to the printer 750.
Printer output unit 718 to send to document registration server 80
It is composed of a data communication unit 719 for performing data communication with 0.

The document registration server 800 includes a data communication unit 810 that performs data communication with the client 700, a storage management unit 820 that manages input and output of images to and from the storage 830, and a storage such as a hard disk to which the document is registered. 830.

The operation of the electronic document filing apparatus composed of the client 700, the document registration server 800, and the network 900 operates according to the electronic document filing apparatus 100 (FIG. 1) described in the first to fourth embodiments.
), Only different parts will be described, and the remaining description will be omitted.

In the electronic document filing apparatus of the fifth embodiment, the electronic document filing apparatus 100 shown in FIG.
Transmits and receives data between the control unit 11, the registration / update determination unit 15, and the storage management unit 16, whereas the control unit 71 transmits and receives data.
1 and a registration / update determination unit 715 and a storage management unit 820
Is transmitted / received via the data communication unit 719, the network 900, and the data communication unit 810.

Therefore, the electronic document filing apparatus shown in FIG. 7 can connect a plurality of clients 700 to the document registration server 800, and
, The client 700 can be installed at a position distant from the document registration server 800.

In the electronic document filing apparatus shown in FIG. 7, the flow of registration and update processing, the method of printing an ID, and the like are the same as those described in the first to fourth embodiments. Therefore, the description is omitted.

[0110]

As described above, according to the present invention, the processing for registering and updating an electronic document is performed by a printer driver without using a dedicated application. It is not necessary to learn the operation of the dedicated application, and an electronic document created by any application can be registered.

[0111] In addition, since an ID is added to an electronic document in association with the registration or update of the electronic document and the electronic document is printed, search and update can be easily performed using the ID on the paper. Even if the information is distributed using a fax, the person who distributes the image can easily obtain the print image or the updated print image using the ID on the sheet.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic document filing device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of each unit when registering and updating a document.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a print position of an ID.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of each unit when registering and updating a document in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of each unit when registering and updating a document in the third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operation of each unit when registering and updating a document in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an electronic document filing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a life cycle of a document.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer driver 11 Control part 12 Image generation part 13 ID generation part 14 User information input / output part 15 Registration / update determination part 16 Storage management part 17 ID addition part 18 Printer output part 20 Application 30 Display device 40 Input device 50 Printer 60 Storage 100 electronic document filing device 300, 310, 320, 330, 331 printed document 700 client 710 printer driver 711 control unit 712 image generation unit 713 ID generation unit 714 user information input / output unit 715 registration / update determination unit 717 ID addition unit 718 printer Output unit 719 Data communication unit 720 Application 730 Display device 740 Input device 750 Printer 800 Document registration server 810 Data communication unit 820 Storage management unit 830 Storage

Claims (12)

[Claims] An electronic document filing method for registering and managing an electronic document created by an application in a storage, wherein the electronic document is converted into a print image, and the registration newly registers the electronic document. In the case of, an identification code unique to the electronic document to be newly registered is issued, the identification code is associated with the print image and registered in the storage, and the registration of the electronic document already registered is updated. In the case of registration, a method of filing an electronic document, wherein the electronic document is registered with reference to the identification code associated with the electronic document to be updated. 2. The electronic document filing method according to claim 1, wherein the print image is printed with the identification code added when the registration is performed. 3. A printing position of the identification code, a predetermined position on the paper, a blank position on the paper generated by reducing and printing the print image, and a new page on a page on which the print image is printed. 3. The electronic document filing method according to claim 2, wherein the file is selected from any of the blank positions generated by the addition. 4. The method of switching between the new registration and the update registration is selected from a manual switching mode in which switching is performed manually and an automatic switching mode in which switching is automatically performed based on a document name or attribute of the electronic document. 2. The method of filing an electronic document according to claim 1, wherein: 5. The update registration is a replacement type update mode in which an existing print image registered in association with the identification code to be updated is discarded and replaced with a newly registered print image. An additional update mode for associating and registering the print image to be updated and the identification code to be updated, and associating the existing print image as an old version; and a print image to be newly registered together with a new identification code as the update target. 2. The electronic document filing method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic document filing method is selected from any of a new registration type update mode in which a new version corresponding to the identification code is registered in association with the new version. 6. The electronic document filing method according to claim 1, wherein the identification code is displayed on a screen or a file is generated at the time of the registration. 7. An electronic document filing apparatus for registering and managing an electronic document created by an application in a storage, comprising: a print image conversion unit for converting the electronic document into a print image; Registration switching means for switching between new registration for registration and update registration for updating the already registered electronic document, identification code issuing means for issuing an identification code unique to the electronic document, and new registration by the registration switching means Is selected, the identification code issued by the identification code issuing means is associated with the print image converted by the print image conversion means, the print image is newly registered in the storage, and update registration is performed by the registration switching means. When selected, based on the identification code associated with the electronic document to be updated, It is provided with a registration means for newly registering the filing apparatus of an electronic document and said. 8. An identification code adding means for converting the identification code into an image at the time of performing the registration and adding the identification code to the print image converted by the print image conversion means, and wherein the identification code is added by the identification code addition means. 8. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a printing unit that prints the print image. 9. The printing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the identification code adding unit adds a new page to a predetermined position on the paper, a blank position on the paper generated by reducing and printing the print image, and a page on which the print image is printed. 9. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the identification code is added to a position selected from any of the blank positions generated by the operation. 10. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the registration switching unit has an automatic switching mode for automatically switching based on a document name or an attribute of the electronic document. 11. The replacement unit, wherein at the time of the update registration, the replacement unit discards an existing print image registered in association with the identification code to be updated and replaces the existing print image with a newly registered print image. A type update mode, an additional type update mode for associating and registering a newly registered print image and the identification code to be updated, and associating the existing print image with an old version; and a newly registered print image. 8. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a new registration type update mode in which a new registration code is registered together with a new identification code as a new version corresponding to the identification code to be updated. 12. The electronic document filing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an identification code notifying unit that notifies the identification code by screen display or file generation.