JPH1185577A - Information processor, file managing method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the expansion of an area to be occupied by a file inside a garbage even after the lapse of long time. SOLUTION: This information processor is provided with a file managing function for temporarily storing the deletion designated file in the other area (garbage can) of a storage device 18 when the deletion is designated to the file stored in the storage device 18. When the deletion of the file is designated in this case, conditions are inputted concerning a period for temporarily storing the file of a deletion object, the file is stored in the garbage can together with these conditions, besides, conditions are set concerning the timing to start processing for deleting the file stored in the garbage can and in the case relevant to the set start timing, while referring to the conditions concerning the period stored together with the file concerning each file stored in the storage device 18, the file after the period is automatically deleted from the garbage can.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to file management in an information processing apparatus, and in particular, when a file stored in a storage device is designated for deletion, the file designated for deletion is stored in another area of the storage device. The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a file management method, and a recording medium that manage to be temporarily stored in a (recycle bin file).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, when a file stored in a storage device is designated for deletion, the file designated for deletion is temporarily stored in another area of the storage device. In addition, a file management function having a so-called recycle bin function is used, which can be restored in the same manner as before deletion when it becomes necessary again.

Normally, a storage area for storing a file designated to be deleted stores files that are not used in normal processing, so that it is preferable that the capacity is small so as not to affect other processing. .

Therefore, conventionally, when a file is temporarily stored in an area for storing a file designated to be deleted (hereinafter referred to as a recycle bin), a file which has passed a predetermined reference time is subjected to a compression process. By applying
It is considered that the capacity of the recycle bin is used effectively.

As this type of apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
There is an information processing device described in JP-A-313145. This information processing device is activated when an unnecessary file is evacuated to the recycle bin, sets the time when the file is evacuated to the recycle bin, counts the elapsed time, and counts the elapsed time to a predetermined reference time. A timer for instructing compression of the file saved when the file has reached the destination, and a file that has passed a predetermined reference time after being saved to the recycle bin is subjected to compression processing based on the instruction of the timer, and then temporarily saved to the recycle bin. Data compression / decompression for performing decompression processing on files that need to be taken out after compression processing is performed is provided.

In the above-described information processing apparatus, compression processing is performed on a file that has passed a predetermined reference time since the file was saved in the recycle bin, and the storage capacity required for the recycle bin is effectively used. Although it is done,
The area occupied by the files in the recycle bin increases, and the storage area other than the recycle bin used in normal processing is pressed.

[0007]

As described above, according to the recycle bin function provided in the conventional information processing apparatus, a file designated for deletion is temporarily stored in the recycle bin, and a file for which a predetermined reference time has elapsed has been deleted. Compression processing to reduce the storage space required for the recycle bin, but after a long period of time, the file occupied by the recycle bin increases even though it is compressed, and is used in normal processing. In some cases, storage areas other than the recycle bin were squeezed.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an information processing apparatus, a file management method, and a recording method capable of not increasing the area occupied by files in a recycle bin even after a long period of time. The purpose is to provide a medium.

[0009]

According to the present invention, when a file stored in a storage device is designated for deletion, the file designated for deletion is temporarily stored in another area of the storage device. In an information processing device equipped with a file management function to save a file, when a file is specified to be deleted, a condition is entered for the period for temporarily storing the file to be deleted. Storage means for storing the file stored by the storage means in another area of the storage device; condition setting means for setting a condition for a start time of a process of deleting a file stored in the storage device from another area of the storage device; According to the start time set by the condition setting means, for each file stored in another area of the storage device by the storage means,
And a deletion unit for referring to the condition regarding the period stored together with the file and deleting the period from the other area of the storage device when the period has elapsed.

According to such a configuration, for a file designated to be deleted stored in another area (recycle bin) of the storage device, it is possible to specify a condition for a period for temporarily storing the file for each file. it can. In addition, a process of automatically deleting files stored in the recycle bin according to the start time set by the condition setting means is executed. Therefore, the files stored in the recycle bin do not unconditionally increase even after a long period of time. further,
When a file is deleted from the recycle bin, it will be deleted from the expired file according to the conditions set when the deletion was specified. By setting the condition for storing for a long time, the original function of the recycle bin function is not impaired.

[0011] The condition for the period input by the storage means is set according to the importance of the file. This allows important files,
That is, a file that may become necessary in any case can be stored in the recycle bin for a long period of time, thereby suppressing an increase in the number of files in the recycle bin and enabling a file to be restored from the recycle bin.

Further, when the file to be deleted by the deletion means is a file of a specific type, a deletion confirmation message is presented before deletion. As a result, since files cannot be restored after being deleted from the recycle bin, shared files that affect other processes and important files are automatically deleted from the recycle bin by using specific types of files. Can be prevented.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a document creation device according to the present embodiment. The document creation device according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a magnetic disk, a CD,
-A program recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM or a DVD is read, and the program is realized by a computer whose operation is controlled by the program.

As shown in FIG. 1, a document creation device according to the present embodiment includes a CPU 10, a memory 12, an input device 1
4, a display device 16, a storage device 18, and a timing device 19 are provided.

The CPU 10 controls the entire apparatus, and realizes various functions by executing based on programs and data stored in the memory 12. In the present embodiment, the trash can management process is executed by executing the trash can management program 12a stored in the memory 12.

The memory 12 is a read-only or readable / writable memory device by the CPU 10 or the like, and stores programs and data. The program area provided in the memory 12 stores control programs and programs for various applications, and includes a trash can management program 12a. Trash management program 12a
First, when deletion of a file is designated, a condition for a period for temporarily storing a file to be deleted is input, and the file is temporarily stored together with the condition. 18 recycle bin files 1
8a, and secondly, the files stored by the storage function are stored in the recycle bin file 18 of the storage device 18.
a) a condition setting function for setting a condition for the start time of the processing to be deleted from the file a. The third function is to store the file stored in the recycle bin file 18a by the storage function according to the start time set by the condition setting function. A deletion function of referring to the condition for the period stored together with the trash box file 18a of the storage device 18 when the period has passed is realized.

In the memory 12, the trash can management information 1 is stored.
2b, information such as a deletion target file list 12c is stored according to the execution status of the program. The trash can management information 12b indicates processing conditions of the trash can function realized by the trash can management program 12a. The processing condition of the recycle bin function includes a condition regarding a start time of a process of deleting a file from the recycle bin file 18a. Details will be described later. The deletion target file list 12c is used in a process of deleting a file from the recycle bin file 18a by the recycle bin function.
This is a list of files to be deleted from the trash box file 18a.

The input device 14 is a pointing device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a pen for inputting data to be processed and instructions to the device. The display device 16 displays a liquid crystal display, input data, output results, messages, and the like, and includes a CRT or the like and a controller.

The storage device 18 is a device for storing various data, programs 18b and the like. The various data includes files used for various processes, a trash can file 18a managed by a trash can function by the trash can management program 12a, and the like. The storage device 18
The program 18b (the trash can management program 12a or the like) recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD, and a floppy disk can be read and executed by the information processing device.

The clock device 19 is for measuring the date and time of year, month and day, and the contents of the clock (year, month, day, day of the week) are stored in the memory 12. Next, the operation of the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

The information processing apparatus realizes a trash can function by causing the CPU 10 to execute the trash can management program 12a stored in the memory 12. In the recycle bin function, when a file stored in the storage device 18 is designated to be deleted, the file designated to be deleted is temporarily stored in the recycle bin file 18a of the storage device 18, and the file is required again. The file can be restored as before by specifying the file.

Further, in the information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the file designated to be deleted in the trash box file 18a is automatically deleted according to the condition for the start time of the process set in the trash box management information 12b.

First, the setting of the trash can management information 12b will be described. When the execution of the setting process of the trash can management information 12b is started by an instruction from the input device 14, C
The PU 10 activates a trash can function (condition setting function) based on the trash can management program 12a, and displays a trash can management information setting screen as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the screen for setting the trash can management information, “periodical trash can”, “deletion time designation”, “deletion execution day”, “deletion execution date and time”, “file type”, “deletion confirmation designation”, “deletion confirmation designation” Each item of “initial deletion confirmation” is provided.

"Regular recycle bin arrangement" is an item for designating whether or not to automatically delete files in the recycle bin at regular intervals. The user can select either "YES" or "NO".

"Specify deletion time" is "Periodical waste bin arrangement"
When "Yes" is selected in the item, this item specifies whether to perform periodic deletion by specifying a date and time or by specifying a day of the week. Select either "Day of the week" or "Date and time" be able to.

The “deletion execution day of the week” is an item for designating which day of the week to execute when “day of the week” is selected in the item of “designation of deletion time”. Any day can be selected. In this item, multiple days can be specified.

The “deletion execution date and time” is an item for specifying the date and time when the process is executed when “date and time” is selected in the “deletion time designation” item, and the date and time can be arbitrarily specified. .

The "file type" is an item for designating a non-deletable period (number of days) according to a file type (important, general) that can be selected when a file is specified to be deleted, and can be arbitrarily changed. . Usually, for a file whose file type is important, a longer number of days than a general file is specified.

The "deletion confirmation designation" is an item for designating a specific file type for displaying a message notifying that a file is to be deleted when a file is deleted from the recycle bin, and is usually added to the file. Specify by extension. FIG. 2 shows a state in which a file whose extension is “.DLL” (dynamic link library) is specified.

"Initial deletion confirmation" is an item for specifying a default state of a deletion confirmation display (necessary or unnecessary) that can be selected when a file is designated for deletion. In the screen for setting the trash can management information shown in FIG. 2, when any setting is made for each item, the trash can management information 24 is set and stored in the memory 12 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the trash can management information 24 includes a regular trash can rearranging flag 24a and deletion time information 24b.
Are provided. The regular trash box arrangement flag 24a is set when “Yes” is selected in the item of “periodic trash box arrangement”.
Set to on state. In the deletion time information 24b, information set in each item of "designation of deletion time", "deletion execution day of the week", and "deletion execution date and time" is set.

The recycle bin management information 24 includes a designated number of days for each file type (important, general), a file type designated for deletion confirmation (extension), and an initial deletion designated on the recycle bin management information setting screen. It is assumed that information indicating the state of confirmation and the like is set as other information.

Next, an operation for deleting a file stored in the storage device 18 will be described. Storage device 18
When the deletion of the file stored in is designated, the CPU 1
No. 0 activates a trash can function (storage function) based on the trash can management program 12a, and displays a condition setting screen as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the screen for setting conditions includes "file type", "deletion impossible period", "storage period"
Each item of “deletion confirmation display” is provided. The “file type” is an item for designating the degree of importance of a file, and any one of “important” and “general” can be designated. Note that the importance may not be two levels but three or more levels.

The “deletion impossible period” is an item in which a period during which the file cannot be deleted from the trash can is set according to the importance specified in the item of “file type”. "important"
The non-deletable period corresponding to each of “general” and “general” is obtained by adding the number of days specified in the item of “file type” on the screen for setting the trash can management information to the current date.

The "storage period" is an item for arbitrarily setting a period for storing a file designated for deletion in the recycle bin. Year, month, and day can be arbitrarily specified. In addition, instead of the storage period, “designated deletion date and time” at which deletion is to be performed may be designated.

The "deletion confirmation display" is an item for designating whether or not it is necessary to display a message notifying that a file is to be deleted from the recycle bin when deleting a file from the recycle bin. Any of "necessary" and "unnecessary" can be selected. As the default state, the one selected in the item of “initial deletion confirmation” on the screen for setting the trash can management information is in the selected state. A message confirming the deletion of the file from the recycle bin can respond to the deletion confirmation.

On the condition setting screen shown in FIG.
When an arbitrary setting is made for each item, as shown in FIG.
0b, the file is moved to the recycle bin file 18a of the storage device 18. The management unit 20 includes
The information of the storage period 22a in the trash box, which indicates the period to be stored in the trash box, set in the items of "non-deletable period" and "storage period", and "necessary" was selected in the item of "deletion confirmation display" At this time, the information of the deletion confirmation display flag 22b which is turned on is included.

As described above, the files designated to be deleted are displayed on the condition setting screen shown in FIG.
Conditions for how long to keep in the recycle bin are set,
It is added as the management unit 20a and stored in the trash file 18a.

Note that, for a file designated for deletion,
Conditions for the period (“non-deletable period” “retention period”)
Is not stored in the trash box file 18a, deletion execution may be instructed without setting items. Further, it is possible to prevent the condition setting screen shown in FIG. 4 from being displayed when the file deletion is designated.

Next, the operation of deleting a file stored in the recycle bin file 18a will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. When the information processing device is started up, the CPU 10 executes the trash can management program 12a, activates the trash can function (deletion function),
Hereinafter, the file stored in the recycle bin file 18a is deleted according to the procedure shown in the flowchart.

First, the CPU 10 sets the trash can management information 24
With reference to the regular trash box arrangement flag 24a, it is determined whether or not the execution of the regular trash box arrangement is set (step S1). If the execution of the regular trash box arrangement is not set, the process ends.

When the execution of the regular trash box arrangement is set, the CPU 10 obtains information on the current time from the clocking device 19, finds the date, the day of the week, and stores it in the memory 12 (step S2). ).

Here, the CPU 10 executes the trash can management information 2
4 is compared with the current year, month, day, and day of the week to determine whether it is a day corresponding to the day of the deletion execution or the date and time of the deletion execution (step S3). Here, if it is determined that the day is not the corresponding day, the processing is ended.

On the other hand, if it is determined that it is the day on which the deletion is to be executed, the CPU 10 determines the period in which the file cannot be deleted from the file stored in the recycle bin file 18a of the storage device 18 or the storage period based on the current date. The file whose period has passed is extracted (step S4). That is, the CPU 10
By comparing the storage period 22a in the recycle bin included in the management unit 20a of each file with the current date, a file having a storage period in the recycle bin before the current date is extracted. CPU
10 creates a deletion target file list 12c including the extracted files (deletion target files) (step S5).

The CPU 10 deletes the file list 1
If the number of files in 2c is not 0 (step S6),
One deletion target file is selected as a processing target from the deletion target file list 12c (step S7), and it is determined whether or not the file is a file for which deletion confirmation display is specified (step S8). That is, the CPU 10 sets the deletion confirmation display flag 22b of the target file management unit 20a.
Is turned on.

When the deletion confirmation display flag 22b is in the ON state and the file has been designated for the deletion confirmation display, the CPU 10 displays a deletion confirmation message as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

The deletion confirmation message shown in FIG. 8 includes a message indicating that a file is to be deleted from the recycle bin, a file name to be deleted, an "OK" button for instructing execution of file deletion, and no file deletion. "Cancel" button for instructing the user to do so is presented.

Here, when the "OK" button is designated and the execution of the deletion of the target file from the recycle bin is confirmed, the CP
U10 deletes the file to be deleted from the recycle bin file 18a of the storage device 18 (steps S9 and S10).

At this point, "cancel" is instructed.
When the execution of the deletion of the target file from the recycle bin is canceled, the CPU 10 causes the recycle bin file 18 in the storage device 18 to be deleted.
without deleting the file to be deleted from step a1.
The process proceeds to step 1 (step S9).

On the other hand, if the deletion confirmation display flag 22b is in the OFF state and the deletion confirmation display is not specified for the file, the CPU 10 immediately proceeds to the recycle bin of the storage device 18 without displaying the deletion confirmation message. The file to be deleted is deleted from the file 18a (step S
8, S10).

When the deletion is executed or canceled for the file to be deleted, the CPU 10 removes the file to be deleted, which is the current object, from the list of files to be deleted and updates the file (step S11).

In the same manner, the processes of steps S6 to S11 are repeated for each file to be deleted registered in the file list to be deleted. As a result, the storage period 2 in the recycle bin of the management unit 20a added to each file
Recycle bin file 1 whose storage period has passed, with reference to 2a
8a can be automatically deleted.

Further, the CPU 10 shifts to a process for a file for which a storage period and a non-deletable period are not specified on the condition setting screen. The CPU 10 extracts, from the files stored in the recycle bin file 18a of the storage device 18, a file in which the non-deletable period or the storage period is not set (Step S12). That is,
The CPU 10 refers to the management unit 20a of each file, and
A file in which the storage period 22a in the trash box is not set is extracted. The CPU 10 creates a deletion target file list 12c including the extracted files (deletion target files) (step S13).

The CPU 10 deletes the file list 1 for deletion.
If the number of files in 2c is not 0 (step S1
4), one file to be deleted is selected as a processing target from the file to be deleted list 12c (step S1).
5) It is determined whether or not the file has been designated for deletion confirmation display (step S16). That is, CP
U10 determines whether the deletion confirmation display flag 22b of the management unit 20a of the target file is on.

If the deletion confirmation display flag 22b is in the ON state and the file has been designated for deletion confirmation display, the CPU 10 displays a deletion confirmation message as shown in FIG. 8, for example.

Here, when the "OK" button is designated and the execution of deletion of the target file from the recycle bin is confirmed, the CP
U10 deletes the file to be deleted from the recycle bin file 18a of the storage device 18 (steps S16 and S1).
8).

At this point, "cancel" is instructed.
When the execution of the deletion of the target file from the recycle bin is canceled, the CPU 10 causes the recycle bin file 18 in the storage device 18 to be deleted.
without deleting the file to be deleted from step a1.
Move to the process of No. 9 (step S16).

On the other hand, if the deletion confirmation display flag 22b is in the OFF state and the file has not been designated for the deletion confirmation display, the CPU 10 immediately proceeds to the recycle bin of the storage device 18 without displaying the deletion confirmation message. The file to be deleted is deleted from the file 18a (step S
16, S18).

When the deletion execution or cancellation is performed on the deletion target file in this way, the CPU 10 removes and updates the deletion target file currently targeted from the deletion target file list (step S11).

In the same manner, the processes of steps S14 to S19 are repeated for each file to be deleted registered in the file list to be deleted. As a result, even a file for which the in-recycle bin storage period 22a is not set can be automatically deleted from the recycle bin file 18a.

As described above, by arbitrarily setting the deletion execution day or the deletion execution date and time on the trash can management information setting screen, each of the trash can files stored in the trash can file 18a of the storage device 18 on that date is set. The file to be deleted can be automatically deleted based on the in-recycle bin storage period 22a set for each file.
Therefore, the files in the recycle bin file 18a are regularly arranged, and the area occupied by the files in the recycle bin does not increase even after a long period of time.

Further, important files can be intentionally stored in the recycle bin file 18a for a long period of time, and when deletion is performed from the recycle bin, deletion confirmation can be performed. In addition, it is possible to effectively use the file restoration provided by the recycle bin function.

Although omitted in the description using the above-described flowchart, when a file to be processed is selected from the file list to be deleted (steps S7 and S1).
5) Refer to the extension of the file, and if it is the same as the extension set in the recycle bin management information,
A deletion confirmation message is displayed, and an instruction for confirming or canceling file deletion can be input (steps S9 and S17).

In the above description, when a file stored in the storage device 18 is instructed to be deleted, a screen for setting conditions is displayed, and designation of conditions is input. It can be set in advance at the start of document creation. In this case, when deletion is designated, the condition setting screen is not displayed, so that the file deletion operation can be simplified. In addition, a condition setting screen can be selectively displayed even when a deletion instruction is given so that a preset condition can be changed.

Note that the method described in the above-described embodiment includes a trash can management program that can be executed by a computer, for example, a magnetic disk (floppy disk, hard disk, etc.), an optical disk (CD-
(ROM, DVD, etc.), a semiconductor memory, or the like, and can be applied to various devices, or transmitted by a communication medium and applied to various devices. A computer that realizes the present apparatus reads the program recorded on the recording medium, and executes the above-described processing by controlling the operation of the program.

[0068]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, for a file designated to be deleted stored in another area (recycle bin) of the storage device, a period for temporarily storing the file for each file is described. A condition can be specified, and a process of automatically deleting files stored in the recycle bin according to the start time set by the condition setting means is executed. Therefore, even after a long period of time, the files stored in the recycle bin do not unconditionally increase, and when files are deleted from the recycle bin, according to the conditions set when the deletion is designated. By setting conditions for storing files that may become necessary for a long time in the Recycle Bin because they are deleted from files whose period has passed, the original function of the Recycle Bin function will be impaired Nor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing an example of a screen for setting trash can management information in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of trash can management information 24 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a condition setting screen according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a file 20 (a management unit 20) according to the embodiment.
The figure which shows an example of the data structure of a).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of deleting a file stored in the trash box file 18a in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of deleting a file stored in the trash box file 18a in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary view showing an example of a message displayed when a file is deleted in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... CPU 12 ... Memory 12a ... Recycle bin management program 12b ... Recycle bin management information 12c ... Deletion target file list 14 ... Input device 16 ... Display device 18 ... Storage device 18a ... Recycle bin file 18b ... Program 19 ... Timing device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A file management function for temporarily storing a file specified to be deleted in another area of the storage device when a file stored in the storage device is specified to be deleted. In the information processing apparatus, when deletion of a file is designated, a condition for a period for temporarily storing the file to be deleted is input, and the file is temporarily stored together with this condition in another area of the storage device. Storage means for storing a file stored in the storage means, a condition setting means for setting a condition for a start time of a process of deleting a file stored in the other area of the storage device, and a start set by the condition setting means. Depending on the time, for each file stored in the other area of the storage device by the storage means, for the period stored together with the file, An information processing apparatus, comprising: a deletion unit that refers to the above condition and deletes the area from another area of the storage device when the period has elapsed. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition for the period input by the storage unit is set according to the importance of the file. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the file to be deleted by the deletion unit is a file of a specific type, a deletion confirmation message is presented before deletion. . 4. A file management method for temporarily storing a file specified to be deleted in another area of the storage device when deletion of the file stored in the storage device is specified. When deletion is designated, a condition is entered for a period for temporarily storing the file to be deleted, and the file is temporarily stored in another area of the storage device together with this condition. A condition is set for the start time of the process of deleting the file that has been deleted from the other area of the storage device. For each file stored in the other area of the storage device, a file is set according to the set start time. A file management method, comprising referring to the condition for the period stored together with the information and deleting the period from another area of the storage device when the period has elapsed. 5. A recording device for recording a program for temporarily storing a file specified to be deleted in another area of the storage device when a file stored in the storage device is specified to be deleted. A medium for inputting a condition regarding a period for temporarily storing a file to be deleted when a file is designated to be deleted, and temporarily storing the file together with this condition in the storage device; Storage means for storing in another area; condition setting means for setting a condition for a start time of a process of deleting a file stored by the storage means from another area of the storage device; and setting by the condition setting means. Depending on the start time, each file stored in another area of the storage device by the storage unit is stored together with the file. Reference, other recording a computer-readable recording medium a program to function as a deleting means for deleting from the area of the storage device when the period is past the conditions for between.