JP2001125923A - Information processor, its method and computer readable memory - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor and its method capable of efficiently managing and retrieving files and a computer readable memory. SOLUTION: A file table display execution processing part 3 displays a file group managed in a reading holder to be noticed. A display holder notification processing part 4 sets up the reading holder as a retrieving holder having the file group to be retrieved. A retrieving condition setting processing part 5 sets up a retrieving condition for retrieving a required file from the file group managed by the retrieving holder. A file retrieval execution processing part 6 retrieves files on the basis of the retrieving condition. Then a retrieved result holder updating processing part 7 generates a retrieved result holder for managing a retrieved file group.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method for managing folders for managing a plurality of file groups, and a computer readable memory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a file list display application for displaying a list of files managed on a terminal device, for example, hierarchically manages a folder for managing a group of files in a file system mounted on the terminal device. are doing. When searching for a desired file from a group of files managed in this folder, the user can use, for example, a display location on the terminal device as a search condition based on a hierarchical location (folder) where the search target file exists. It was specified using the search condition setting unit displayed on the device. Then, a search result (file group) obtained based on the designated search condition is displayed as a file list display on a file list display section displayed on the display device of the terminal device.

[0005] Further, as a specification method for performing a re-search (refinement search) from search results once searched, there has been the following method.

[0004] A search condition setting section specifies whether or not to perform a narrow search.

[0005] In the search condition setting section, a new search condition is added by using a symbol such as "&" to the search condition used in the immediately preceding search.

[0006]

However, the conventional method has the following problems.

[0007] As a search result, even when the user wants to set a folder in which the file list display section displayed on the display unit of the terminal device is being browsed as a search target folder, the user needs to separately input the search condition setting section. Was.

[0008] The user has to perform an operation for designating a refined search in the search condition setting section.

As described above, the operations in the file list display unit and the search condition setting unit are not consistent with each other, so that the user needs extra operations and thoughts.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an information processing apparatus and method capable of efficiently managing and searching files, and a computer readable memory. I do.

[0011]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following arrangement.
That is, an information processing apparatus that manages a folder that manages a plurality of file groups, includes a display unit that displays a file group managed in a browse folder that is a target, and a file group that searches the browse folder. Setting means for setting as a search folder; search condition setting means for setting a search condition for searching for a desired file from a group of files managed in the search folder; and searching for a file based on the search condition A search unit; and a generation unit that generates a search result folder that manages a group of files searched by the search unit.

[0012] Preferably, the search condition setting means displays a search condition setting screen including a search folder display area for displaying the search folder and a search condition input area for inputting search conditions.

Preferably, the setting means sets the browse folder in the search folder display area.

[0014] Preferably, the display means displays a folder group and a folder designation area in which the browse folder can be designated from the folder group, and a file group managed by the browse folder. A display screen having a file display area is displayed.

[0015] Preferably, the generation means generates the search result folder in the folder designation area.

Preferably, when a search condition is set by the search condition setting means in a state where the search result folder is the browsing folder, the search means sets a file group managed by the search result folder. Perform a refined search for.

An information processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, an information processing method for managing a folder for managing a plurality of file groups, the method including a display step of displaying a file group managed in a browse folder of interest, and a file group for searching the browse folder. A setting step of setting as a search folder, a search condition setting step of setting a search condition for searching for a desired file from a group of files managed by the search folder, and performing a file search based on the search condition A search step; and a generation step of generating a search result folder for managing a group of files searched in the search step.

A computer readable memory according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration. That is, a computer-readable memory storing a program code of an information processing section that manages a folder that manages a plurality of file groups, and a program code of a display step of displaying a file group managed in a browse folder of interest. When,
A program code for a setting step of setting the browse folder as a search folder having a search target file group;
A program code of a search condition setting step of setting a search condition for searching for a desired file from a file group managed by the search folder; and a program code of a search step of searching for a file based on the search condition. And a program code of a generation step of generating a search result folder for managing a group of files searched in the search step.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional module configuration of an information processing apparatus having a file list display function according to a first embodiment of the present invention. <Functional Module Configuration> In FIG. 1, an information processing apparatus having a file list display function includes a file list display module 101 for displaying a list of folders and files managed in the information processing apparatus by the file system 1, A file search module 102 that searches the file system 1 for a file that satisfies the search condition specified by the user.

The file system 1 is a system for hierarchically managing folders for managing a group of files by an operating system or the like, and is stored in a storage medium such as a hard disk or a magneto-optical disk.

In the file list display module 101, the display folder information acquisition processing section 2 acquires information on a folder designated by the user from a group of hierarchical folders managed by the file system 1. The file list display execution processing unit 3 displays a list of folders and files in the folder acquired by the display folder information acquisition processing unit 2. The display folder notification processing unit 4 notifies the file search module 102 of the folder displayed by the file list display execution processing unit 3.

In the file search module 102,
The search condition setting processing unit 5 sets the folder notified by the display folder notification processing unit 4 and the search condition specified by the user. The file search execution processing unit 6 searches the file system 1 for folders and files that satisfy the search conditions based on the search conditions set by the search condition setting processing unit 5. The search result folder update processing unit 7 generates or updates a search result folder that manages a folder group or a file group as a search result by the file search execution processing unit 6, and transmits the generated or updated content to the file list display unit module 101. Notice. <Structure of Apparatus> The function module structure shown in FIG. 1 can be partially or entirely realized by a hardware circuit. In the first embodiment, the function module structure is realized by executing a program of each function module by a computer. Here, a configuration of an information processing apparatus for executing the program will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a CRT display device, which displays a file list, a dialog for inputting search conditions, and the like. Note that the CRT display device 21 may be another display device such as a liquid crystal display. 22 is a video RAM
(VRAM), which expands and stores an image displayed on the screen of the CRT display device 21. A bit move unit (BMU) 23 controls data transfer between memories or between a memory and each device.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a keyboard provided with various keys for performing an editing operation and the like. Reference numeral 25 denotes a pointing device (PD) used for indicating an object or the like displayed on the screen. Reference numeral 26 denotes a CPU, which is based on a control program (a program for implementing a file search process of the present invention, including a program related to a file list display process and an error processing program) stored in a ROM 27, and the present information processing apparatus. Control each component. Reference numeral 28 denotes a RAM which stores various programs described above in C
It is used as a work area when executed by the PU 26 and a temporary save area during error processing. Reference numeral 29 denotes a hard disk drive (HDD), and reference numeral 30 denotes a floppy disk drive (FDD). A storage medium mounted on each drive is used for storing application programs, data (folders and files), and libraries described later. .

Reference numeral 31 denotes a network interface (Ne)
t-I / F), and performs data control and diagnosis on the network for performing data transfer with another image server or print server via the network.
Reference numeral 32 denotes an I / O bus (comprising an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus) for interconnecting the above-described components.

The program stored in the ROM 27 according to the first embodiment includes a hard disk (HD) mounted on a hard disk drive (HDD) 29 directly connected to the information processing apparatus, and a floppy disk drive (FDD). The data may be stored in a storage medium such as a floppy disk (FD) mounted on the storage device 30. Further, it may be stored on another device connected via a network or an external storage device.

Further, the program of the present invention is used for FD or HD
It can also be supplied to a system or an apparatus via a storage medium such as the above or a network.

Next, a file search process executed in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. <File Search Processing> FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the file search processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In step S1, the user designates a place to be browsed (browsing folder) from a group of folders managed by the file system 1. Here, for example, a folder name “folder1” is designated as the browse folder.
In step S2, information on the designated folder is obtained from the file system 1. This is executed by the display folder information acquisition processing unit 2. In step S3, a list of files managed in the acquired folder is displayed. This is executed by the file list display execution processing unit 3.

Here, the file list display module 10
An example of the file list display screen displayed by No. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a file list display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numeral 401 denotes a folder hierarchy display unit, which is an input interface for designating a folder. The user selects a desired folder in the folder hierarchy display unit 401 to open a browse folder (here, the folder name “fo”).
lder1 "folder). 402 is step S
3 is an example of a file list display screen displayed in 3. Here, a list of files managed in the folder having the specified folder name “folder1” is displayed. FIG. 5 shows the folder name “folder21” displayed by the file list display module 101 when the folder name “folder21” is designated as the browse folder from the folder with the folder name “folder1” by the processing of steps S1 to S3. 9 is a list display screen of files managed in the folder of FIG.

Returning to the description of FIG.

In step S4, the folder for managing the file group displayed in the list is stored in the file search module 102.
Notify. This is executed by the display folder notification processing unit 4. In step S5, the folder notified by the display folder notification processing unit 4 is set as a search folder.
This is executed by the search condition setting processing unit 5.

Here, an example of a search condition setting screen displayed by the file search module 102 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a search condition setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 403 denotes a search folder display section for displaying a search location (search folder). In this case, the folder with the folder name “folder1” is set as the search folder by the processing in step S5. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the folder name “folder
When the folder with the folder name “folder21” is designated as the browse folder from the folder of “1”, as shown in FIG.
The setting contents of the search folder display section 403 are also automatically changed by the processing of step S5 without the user's designation.

Returning to the description of FIG.

In step S6, the user inputs search conditions for the current search folder and instructs execution of the search. FIG. 8 shows an input example of the search condition input on the search condition setting screen of FIG.

In step S7, a file that satisfies the specified search condition is searched from the file system 1.
This is executed by the file search execution processing unit 6. In step S8, a search result folder for managing a group of files serving as search results is updated based on the searched search results (a search result folder is created in an initial state). This is executed by the search result folder update processing unit 7.

In step S9, information is acquired using the updated search result folder as a list display folder for managing a group of files to be displayed in a list. This is the same process as step S2, and is executed by the display folder information acquisition processing unit 2.

In step S10, a list of files as search results is displayed based on the display information of the obtained search result folders. This is the same process as step S3, and is executed by the file list display execution processing unit 3.
FIG. 9 shows a display example of a list of search results in step S10.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to automatically set a folder for managing the files displayed in the file list display as a search folder in advance. This ensures that the folder displayed on the file list display screen is always set as the search folder set on the search condition setting screen, and that the file list display screen and the search condition setting screen have consistency. And a search using the search folder can be efficiently executed. Therefore, the search operation can be performed without causing unnecessary operation or confusion for the user. [Second Embodiment] When a further search is performed from the search results (refinement search), it is possible to execute the same search operation as in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described.

First, a file search process executed in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a file search process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In step S12, the file search module 102 is notified that the search result folders are listed by the file list display module 101 in step S10 in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. this is,
This processing is the same as that in step S4, and is executed by the display folder notification processing unit 4.

In step S13, the notified search result folder is set as a search location. This is the step S
5 is performed by the search condition setting processing unit 5. It should be noted that the display example shown in FIG.
2. When the process of step S13 is executed, as shown in FIG. 11, a folder having the folder name "search result" is set as a search folder on the search condition setting screen.

In step S14, it is determined whether the user performs a narrow search. When performing a refined search (YES in step S14), the user does not need to specify anything, and the process proceeds to step S6, and a file that satisfies the search condition specified by the user is searched for in the folder name “search result” as in the first embodiment. Search among files managed in the folder. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the user inputs search conditions for performing a refined search on the search condition setting screen. FIG. 13 shows an example of a list display of files managed in a search result folder by the narrow search.

On the other hand, if the narrowing-down search is not performed in step S14 (NO in step S14), step S15
Proceed to. In step S15, it is determined whether the user searches another folder. If another folder is searched (YES in step S15), the process proceeds to step S1, and the same processing as in the first embodiment is executed. On the other hand, when another folder is not searched (NO in step S15), the process ends.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the search result folder for managing the file group satisfying the search condition in the file list display module 101 is the browse folder, the search result folder is automatically searched. Since the folder is set in advance, when performing a refined search for the files managed in the search result folder, the user does not needlessly perform the refined search, that is, the user can specify the refined search or A refined search can be executed without specifying a search place or the like.

As described above, according to the first and second embodiments, when a search is performed on a folder in which a file list is displayed, the user specifies a search folder in a part where search conditions are set. There is no need, and the operation is simplified and the burden can be reduced.

Also, in the case of performing a refined search, similarly to a normal folder search, if the folder in which files are displayed in a list is a search result folder, the refined search is automatically performed, and the user can specify the refined search. No need to do.

In addition, the consistency that the folder in which the file is displayed in the list as the search folder is consistent allows the user to perform the search operation without being confused.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), a device including one device (for example, a copier, a facsimile machine) Etc.).

Another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to provide a computer (or CPU) of the system or apparatus.
And MPU) read and execute the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, the storage medium stores program codes corresponding to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3 and 10 described above.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An information processing apparatus and method capable of efficiently managing and searching for a file, and a computer-readable memory can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional module configuration example of an information processing apparatus having a file list display function according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a file search process according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file list display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file list display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search condition setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search condition setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search condition setting screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a file list display screen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a file search process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search condition setting screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 File system 2 Display folder information acquisition processing part 3 File list display execution processing part 4 Display folder notification processing part 5 Search condition setting processing part 6 File search execution processing part 7 Search result folder update processing part 101 File list display module 102 File search Module 21 CRT 22 Video RAM 23 BMU 24 Keyboard 25 Pointing Device 26 CPU 27 ROM 28 RAM 29 Hard Disk Drive 30 Floppy Disk Drive 31 Network Interface 32 I / O Bus

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus that manages a folder that manages a plurality of file groups, a display unit that displays a file group managed in a browse folder that is a target, and a file that is searched for the browse folder. Setting means for setting as a search folder having a group; search condition setting means for setting a search condition for searching for a desired file from a file group managed by the search folder; An information processing apparatus comprising: a search unit that performs a search; and a generation unit that generates a search result folder that manages a group of files searched by the search unit. 2. The search condition setting screen according to claim 1, wherein the search condition setting means displays a search folder display area for displaying the search folder and a search condition input area for inputting search conditions. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit sets the browse folder in the search folder display area. 4. The display means displays a group of folders and allows the user to specify the browse folder from the group of folders, and a file display area for displaying a group of files managed by the browse folder. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display screen having the following is displayed. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the generation unit generates the search result folder in the folder designation area. 6. When a search condition is set by the search condition setting means in a state where the search result folder is the browse folder, the search means performs a narrowed search for a file group managed in the search result folder. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing is performed. 7. An information processing method for managing a folder for managing a plurality of file groups, comprising: a display step of displaying a file group managed in a browse folder of interest; A setting step of setting as a search folder having a group; a search condition setting step of setting a search condition for searching for a desired file from a file group managed by the search folder; An information processing method, comprising: a search step of performing a search; and a generation step of generating a search result folder that manages a group of files searched in the search step. 8. The search condition setting screen according to claim 7, wherein the search condition setting step includes displaying a search folder display area for displaying the search folder and a search condition input area for inputting search conditions. The information processing method described. 9. The information processing method according to claim 8, wherein the setting step sets the browse folder in the search folder display area. 10. The display step includes displaying a folder group and designating the browse folder from the folder group, and a file display area displaying a file group managed by the browse folder. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein a display screen having the following is displayed. 11. The information processing method according to claim 10, wherein the generating step generates the search result folder in the folder designation area. 12. When a search condition is set in the search condition setting step in a state where the search result folder is the browse folder, the search unit performs a narrowed search for a file group managed in the search result folder. The information processing method according to claim 7, wherein: 13. A display step of displaying, in a computer-readable memory, a program group of an information processing section for managing a folder for managing a plurality of file groups, the file group being managed in a viewing folder of interest. A program code of a setting step of setting the browse folder as a search folder having a group of files to be searched, and a search condition for searching for a desired file from a group of files managed by the search folder. A program code for a search condition setting step, a program code for a search step for searching for a file based on the search condition, and a program for a generation step for generating a search result folder for managing a group of files searched in the search step And a computer readable memory comprising: