Program and information processing device

Abstract

When a specific process is to be performed on a file in a first format when a first image representing the file is displayed, the specific process can be executed earlier than when a file in a second format is created after instructing the execution of the specific process. [Solution] When a file in a first format (e.g., a spreadsheet data format) on a desktop screen or the like is imported into workspace area 110, a file in a second format (e.g., PDF) that can be bundled, separated, etc. is created, and the files in the first and second formats are stored in association with each other. An icon 112 representing the first format is displayed. When an instruction is given to icon 112 to execute a specific process, such as bundling, that cannot be executed on files in the first format, the information processing device executes the specific process using the file in the second format that has already been created.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a program and an information processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] There is software that manages image data scanned by a scanner and document files created by applications on a personal computer (PC). Examples of such software include file handling software such as DocuWorks (trademark) provided by the applicant and Adobe Acrobat (trademark) from Adobe Systems. This type of software (hereinafter simply referred to as "software") can import and handle image data files (e.g., JPEG format) obtained by scanning paper documents and application files created by various applications such as word processors and spreadsheets.

[0003] This type of file handling software converts and manages files with different data formats created by various applications into a data format described in a language that defines the appearance of a page, i.e., a page image, such as a page description language.

[0004] Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, this type of file handling software has information indicating the images of each page within a document, and therefore has "bundling" and "separation" functions. The bundling function is a function that combines multiple documents to create a single document. Using the bundling function, it is also possible to bundle pages of files created by different applications, such as a word processor file and a spreadsheet file. The separation function is a function that divides a single document into multiple documents on a page-by-page basis.

[0005] Applications such as word processors generally do not have functions for bundling or unbundling files they create. To unbundle or unbundle files created by applications without bundling functions, one method is to import the files into the handling software mentioned above. For example, a document represented by a Word file created by Microsoft's word processing software "Word" can be converted to PDF format, and the PDF document can then be unbundled page by page using DocuWorks or Acrobat.

[0006] In addition to the example of handling software mentioned above, in order to perform processing that cannot be performed on files of a certain data format, it is not uncommon to use a method of converting the file into a data format that can be handled by an application that can process the file.

[0007] The operating system also has a default application for opening and working with each data type (i.e., format). In the operating system's GUI (graphical user interface), files are often displayed with an icon that indicates the file's data type.

[0008] That is, when an icon representing a file in a certain data format (called a first format) is opened by double-clicking or the like, a first application associated with the first format is launched, and the file is opened by the first application. If the file is converted to a different second format, the converted file is displayed as a second format icon representing the second format, and when an open operation is performed on the second format icon, a second application associated with the second format is launched.

[0009] And, as in the example of the bundling function of the file handling software of the word processor mentioned above, there are certain processes that cannot be executed in the first application but can be executed in the second application.

[0010] Patent document 1 also discloses a technology for combining (encapsulating) a content file and conversion instruction information for converting the format of the content file into another format into a single document, in order to distribute the file in a format that suits the destination environment (which format is supported).

[0011] Patent Document 3 discloses a device that converts an input file into a PDF file if it is in a format other than PDF. When the input file is PDF and another file is attached, this device combines the input PDF file with the attached PDF file if the other file is PDF, or converts the attached file into PDF and combines it with the input PDF file if it is not, and converts the resulting PDF file into page description language data and prints it. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-124489 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4350981 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 5725812 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] There are specific processes that cannot be performed on files in the first format but can be performed on files in the second format. If you try to perform a specific process on a file in the first format when a first image, such as an icon, representing the file is displayed, it is necessary to create a file in the second format from the time you instruct the process to be performed, and then perform the specific process on the created file, which takes time.

[0014] The present invention aims to provide a method for executing a specific process on a file of a first format when the first image representing the file is displayed, faster than instructing the execution of the specific process and then creating a file of a second format. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The invention of claim 1 acquires a file in a first format in which a specific process cannot be executed, creates a file in a second format in which the specific process can be executed based on the acquired file in the first format before execution of the specific process is instructed, displays a first image representing the file in the first format, and does not display a second image representing the file in the second format, and when execution of the specific process is instructed on the first image representing the file in the first format, executes the specific process on the created file in the second format. and if a file of a second format is created as a result of the identification process, an image representing the created file of the second format is further displayed while the first image representing the file of the first format is still displayed. It is a program that causes a computer to execute a process.

[0016] The invention of claim 2 is the program described in claim 1, characterized in that when a second process different from the specific process that can be performed on a file of the first format is instructed to be performed on the first image, the program further causes the computer to perform the second process on the file of the first format.

[0018] Claim 3 The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the specific processing is processing for combining multiple files to create a new file in a second format. or 2 It is a program described in

[0019] Claim 4 The invention according to claim 1 further causes the computer to execute a process of attaching the first format file represented by the first image among the plurality of files to the new second format file created as a result of the specific process. 3 It is a program described in

[0020] Claim 5 The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the specific processing is processing for dividing one file into multiple files and creating multiple files in a second format. or 2 It is a program described in

[0021] Claim 6 The invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the specific processing is processing for creating a file in a second format to which an annotation is added. or 2 It is a program described in

[0023] Claim 7 The invention according to claim 1, wherein the computer is caused to execute a process in which, when the file in the second format is acquired, a second image representing the file in the second format is displayed, and when an instruction to execute the specific process is given for a plurality of images each representing a different file, the computer executes the specific process using the file in the second format created before the instruction to execute the specific process was given from the file in the first format for the file in the first format represented by each of the plurality of images, and using the file in the second format for the file in the second format represented by each of the plurality of images. 6 The program according to any one of the above items.

[0024] Claim 8 The invention is characterized in that the program described in 2 causes the computer to execute a process in which, when the second format file is acquired, a second image representing the second format file is displayed, and when an instruction is given to execute the second process for multiple images each representing a different file, the first format file is used for the first format file represented by each of the multiple images, and the second format file is used for the second format file represented by each of the multiple images.

[0025] Claim 9The invention according to the present invention includes a processor, wherein the processor acquires a file in a first format in which a specific process cannot be executed, creates a file in a second format in which the specific process can be executed based on the acquired file in the first format before an instruction to execute the specific process is given, displays a first image representing the file in the first format, and does not display a second image representing the file in the second format, and when an instruction to execute the specific process is given for the first image representing the file in the first format, executes the specific process on the created file in the second format. and if a file of a second format is created as a result of the identification process, an image representing the created file of the second format is further displayed while the first image representing the file of the first format is still displayed. The information processing device is characterized by the above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] Claim 1 or 9 According to the invention, when a specific process is to be performed on a first image representing a file of a first format while that file is being displayed, the specific process can be performed more quickly than when a command to perform the specific process is issued and then a file of a second format is created. Furthermore, according to the invention, compared to when a second image is displayed in addition to the first image, the cumbersome task of selecting either the first image or the second image depending on whether the process to be performed is a specific process or not is eliminated. Furthermore, according to the present invention, even if a file in the second format is created as a result of specific processing, it is possible to receive an instruction to execute processing on the original file in the first format itself.

[0027] According to the invention of claim 2, in the second process, the first image can be made to behave as if it represents a file in the first format to the user.

[0029] Claim 3 According to the invention, it is possible to execute a process of combining multiple files to create a new file of the second format more quickly than when the execution of the process is instructed and then the file of the second format is created.

[0030] Claim 4 According to the invention, the combined file of the first format can also be called from the new file of the second format created as a result of the combination.

[0031] Claim 5 According to the invention, it is possible to execute a process of dividing one file into multiple files to create multiple files of a second format more quickly than a process of instructing the execution of the process and then creating files of the second format.

[0032] Claim 6 According to the invention, it is possible to execute the process of creating a file in a second format with annotations added more quickly than when the process is instructed to be executed and then the file in the second format is created.

[0034] Claim 7 According to the invention, it is possible to execute a specific process even when multiple files are involved.

[0035] Claim 8 According to the invention, when an instruction is given to execute a second process on multiple files, the second process can be executed on the original first format file acquired, rather than on the second format file created based on the first format file. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0036] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a handling screen provided by the information processing device. [Figure 2] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure when an instruction to execute processing is received for a document icon on a handling screen. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which icons of documents to be processed are selected in order on the handling screen. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing four typical patterns of bundling processing. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall processing procedure of bundling processing. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of lock control in a specific process. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a disassembly screen. [Figure 8] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing three typical patterns of disassembly processing. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall processing procedure of the disassembly process. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a computer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Hereinafter, a description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an "embodiment") with reference to the drawings. The embodiment will be described with respect to an information processing device having a file handling function that displays the contents of electronic data files to a user and processes the files in response to user operations.

[0038] <File handling function> The information processing device of this embodiment imports and handles files created by application software such as a word processor, and files representing image data generated by a scanner, digital camera, etc. This information processing device converts the imported files into files in a data format for handling and manages them. This data format for handling describes images of each page of the document represented by the file, and examples of this include the Portable Document Format (PDF) and the xdw format used in the aforementioned DocuWorks. In the example shown below, the information processing device uses the PDF format as the data format for handling. Hereinafter, files may also be referred to as documents.

[0039] In the following, the data format of a file imported by an information processing device from an application or the like is referred to as the original format or first format. In contrast, the data format of a file used by an information processing device for handling is referred to as the handling format or second format. For example, Microsoft Word is an example of the first format, and PDF is an example of the second format. The second format can also be considered an internal data format used by an information processing device to perform device-specific handling processes. A second-format file contains data describing the image content of each page, which can be used to determine and display the page number of the document represented by the file, or to open and display any page within the document like a paper book. The xdw format is also a data format that describes the images of each page of a document. However, if an information processing device uses PDF as the handling format, i.e., the second format, the xdw format corresponds to the first format. In other words, when an xdw format file is imported into an information processing device from an external device, the information processing device converts the file to the second format, PDF, and uses the second format for handling.

[0040] The information processing device has a function of executing various handling processes such as bundling, unbundling, and annotation.

[0041] Bundling is a process of combining multiple files to create a single file, and is also called a composition process. For example, if a first file having 10 pages and a second file having 5 pages are combined in this order using the bundling process, a third file is created in which the 10 pages of the first file are arranged in order from the beginning, followed by the 5 pages of the second file. Depending on the settings configured in the information processing device, the created third file is either saved as a new file separate from both the first and second files, or overwrites the first file. A setting may also be provided so that the third file is saved over the second file rather than the first file.

[0042] The splitting process is a process of splitting a file into multiple files. For example, if a file with 10 pages is split into two pages at a time, starting from the first page, five files containing two pages each will be created.

[0043] Annotation processing is a process of accepting annotations from a user for content (e.g., paragraphs or character strings) or locations within a page included in a file, and associating the annotation data with the content or location. When an information processing device displays the page, annotations associated with the content or location within the page are displayed in the form of, for example, a sticky note or a pop-up corresponding to the content or location.

[0044] The bundling, unbundling, and annotation processes performed by the information processing device are processes that can be performed on files in the handling format used by the information processing device, i.e., the second format. These processes cannot be performed on files in the original format before they are imported into the information processing device, i.e., the first format. In this way, specific processes that cannot be performed on files in the first format but can be performed on files in the second format are called "specific processes."

[0045] Additionally, "a specific process cannot be performed on a file (of a certain data format)" means that the specific process cannot be performed in the original data format. This concept includes cases where an application that handles that data format does not have the functionality to perform that specific process. This concept also includes cases where, when a specific process is performed on a file of that data format by an application, the result of the process is not the intended data format but a different data format.

[0046] For example, the application "Word" that handles Microsoft Word files, which is an example of the first format, does not have the functionality to bundle or unbundle pages. Therefore, if you want to perform specific processing such as bundling or unbundling on a Word file, you import the file into an information processing device and convert it into a second format such as PDF, and then perform the specific processing on the second format file.

[0047] The information processing device imports a file in a first format and creates a file in a second format. In this embodiment, the information processing device stores the imported first format file and a second format file created from the imported file in correspondence with each other. The method of this correspondence is not limited. The internal format of a document in the information processing device may be any format that can include two files, a first format file and a second format file, of the document, associated with an image, i.e., an icon, representing the document. For example, this internal format may be one that can contain both a first format file and a second format file within a single internal format file. Alternatively, the internal format may store a first format file and a second format file created from the first format file separately, and create and store management information that records the correspondence between the two files. If a file imported from an external device into the information processing device is in a first format, the file in the internal format, i.e., the document, includes both the first format file and the second format file created from the first format file. If a file imported from an external device is in a second format, the internal format file includes the second format file.

[0048] In this way, the contents of an internal format file differ depending on whether it was created when a first format file was imported or when a second format file was imported. Therefore, on the handling screen 100 described below, the image content of the icon representing the internal format file is distinguished depending on whether the file is derived from a first format file or a second format file. For example, as described below, if the file is derived from a first format file, a mark 112b representing the first format may be displayed on the icon 112, etc. The information processing device handles the icon 112, etc. representing an internal format file derived from a first format file as representing the internal format file as a first format file.

[0049] The internal format file may have, for example, header information therein, information indicating whether the internal format file originates from a file in the first format or a file in the second format. Furthermore, an internal format file derived from a file in the first format may have, for example, header information therein, information indicating which application's data format the first format is. The image content of the icon displayed on the handling screen 100 may then be switched according to the information indicating the distinction or the information indicating the application.

[0050] As another example, when an information processing device imports a file in the second format, the file may be stored as is. That is, in this example, when a file in the second format is imported, the file is not converted to an internal format file, but is stored as is. An internal format file is created when a file in the first format is imported. In this example, the information processing device determines that the internal format file is derived from the first format, and simply recognizes the second format file as a second format file.

[0051] Note that, as will be described later, the second format, for example PDF, is a format that can attach other files. Therefore, there exists a second format file to which a first format file is attached. On the other hand, the internal format of a file in the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment is different from the second format, and the two can be clearly distinguished.

[0052] That is, the file in the internal format created by the information processing apparatus when a first format file is imported includes the data contents of both the first format file and the second format file created from the first format file. In this regard, it is the same as the second format file to which the first format file is attached. However, the file in the internal format and the second format file with an attached file are distinguished as files with different formats, for example, by file header information and the like. And the information processing apparatus makes the icon 112 etc. representing the file in the internal format created from the first format file have image contents different from the icon (for example, the icon representing the document 402 in FIG. 4 described later) representing the second format file to which a file is attached.

[0053] <Explanation of UI (User Interface) Screen> FIG. 1 illustrates a handling screen 100 displayed by the information processing apparatus as a UI screen. The illustrated handling screen 100 includes a workspace area 110 and an operation button area 120.

[0054] The workspace area 110 is a kind of desktop screen on which icons 112, 114, 116,... of files that the user wants to manage are arranged. The user creates, for example, a workspace area 110 for each business that the user is engaged in, and places a group of files such as documents used in that business in the workspace area 110 for management. The workspace area 110 shown in FIG. 1 is one of the one or more workspace areas 110 that can be created in this way.

[0055] In the workspace area 110, icons 112, 114, 116, 118, and 119 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "icons 112, etc." when there is no need to distinguish between them) representing files to be handled are displayed.

[0056] The icon 112 includes a thumbnail image 112a of the page of the corresponding file, a mark 112b indicating the data format of the file, and a file name 112c of the file. The file represented by the icon 112 is a file in a word processing software data format, and the mark 112b is designed to indicate that data format. The mark 112b is displayed in a predetermined position within the thumbnail image 112a (the lower left corner in the illustrated example) so as to be superimposed on the thumbnail image 112a.

[0057] Since the file is imported into the information processing device and displayed on the handling screen 100, a file in a corresponding handling format, i.e., a second format (PDF format in this example), is also created and stored in the information processing device in association with the icon 112. The content of the document represented by this second format file (i.e., images of each page of the document) is the same as the content of the document represented by the corresponding first format file. In the example of icon 112, the data format of the word processing software is the first format. The file represented by icon 112 is a document of only one page, and the thumbnail image 112a is a reduced image of that page.

[0058] The thumbnail image 112a is created from data in a second format file that is stored in association with the icon 112. That is, the file contains data describing an image of one page, and the thumbnail image 112a of that page is created from that data and displayed as the image of the icon 112.

[0059] The file represented by icon 114 is a document consisting of two pages. This file is in a spreadsheet software data format, and mark 114b indicates the data format. A clip-shaped mark 114d at the top of icon 114 indicates that the file contains multiple pages. A page-back mark 114e is displayed to the left of clip-shaped mark 114d, and a page-forward mark 114f is displayed to the right. These marks 114e and 114f are used to turn the page indicated by thumbnail image 114a in icon 114. A page number 114g is displayed above thumbnail image 114a. The page number 114g indicates the page number of the displayed thumbnail image 114a. In the illustrated example, thumbnail image 114a indicates that it is the first page of a two-page file. Note that the information processing device stores not only files in the first format, which is the spreadsheet software data format, but also files in a second format (PDF format in this example) created from the first file, in association with icon 114. Thumbnail images 114a of each page included in icon 114 are created from the data of each page included in the second-format file. In one example, thumbnail images of each page may be created all at once, for example, when the file is imported into an information processing device, and may be stored in the information processing device in association with the second-format file. As another example, the information processing device may dynamically create thumbnail image 114a of a new page to be displayed from the data of that page in the second-format file in synchronization with an operation of turning a page displayed on icon 114 in response to pressing mark 114e or 114f.

[0060] Because thumbnail image 114a is created from a second-format file describing the page image, it is possible to turn the pages of thumbnail image 114a when displaying icon 114, and to display page number 114g. For example, if thumbnail images of each page are not created in advance (e.g., when the file is imported) and stored in the information processing device, thumbnail images of the pages can be dynamically and quickly generated from the second-format file when they are displayed. If only a first-format file is available, the total number of pages cannot be determined unless the first-format file is opened using a first-format application. Furthermore, it is not practical to launch a first-format application in order to dynamically generate thumbnail images.

[0061] The file represented by icon 116 is data for a 12-page document, and its data format is the second format, PDF. This file was generated by an external application capable of editing PDF files, or was generated by an information processing device as a result of a specific process, such as bundling or unbundling. This file does not have a first-format file with the same document content. In other words, icon 116 is associated with a second-format file, but is not associated with a first-format file with the same document content.

[0062] Icons 112, 114, 116, and 119 are displayed as images sized proportionally to the page size of the document represented by the corresponding file. In the illustrated example, icons 112, 114, and 119 represent A4-sized pages, while icon 116 represents an A3-sized page.

[0063] Icon 118 is an icon displayed to represent a file after the file is imported into the information processing device until page data in the second format is created. Because a thumbnail image of the page cannot be generated until page data in the second format is created, icon 118 does not include a thumbnail image but includes a pre-prepared image indicating the data format of the file. Such icon 118 is displayed in workspace area 110 when handling processing (e.g., specific processing such as bundling described above, or moving the icon's position within workspace area 110) becomes possible for the file in response to the import operation. Then, when page data for the file is created and a thumbnail image becomes possible to display, icon 118 is changed to an icon including a thumbnail image similar to icons 112 and 114.

[0064] Although an example in which the icons 112 etc. include thumbnail images 112a etc. has been described here, this is merely an example. The processing of this embodiment described below that does not use thumbnail images 112a etc. can also be applied to the case in which icons that do not include thumbnail images 112a etc. are used.

[0065] The icons 112, 114, etc. in the workspace area 110 can be moved to any position within the workspace area 110 by, for example, dragging and dropping with a mouse.

[0066] The operation button area 120 displays GUI buttons that the user presses to instruct various processes on files represented by the icons 112, 114, etc. displayed in the workspace area 110. For example, the print button 122 is a button for instructing printing. For example, the user selects one or more file icons 112, 114, etc. in the workspace area 110 by clicking or the like, and then presses (e.g., clicks) the print button 122. In response to this operation, the information processing device executes processing for printing the files represented by the selected icons 112, etc. In addition, the approval seal button 124 is a button for instructing processing for stamping the user's approval seal at a predetermined location on a predetermined page of the selected document. The approval seal is stamped by using the annotation function of the information processing device to superimpose an image of the seal impression on a pre-stored approval seal at a predetermined location on a predetermined page of the second-format file of the document corresponding to the selected icon. The stamping process indicated by the approval seal button 124 is processing for second-format data and cannot be executed on the original first-format data, such as a word processor document. That is, this stamping process is an example of a specific process.

[0067] Although not shown, the operation button area 120 may also include buttons for instructing bundling and unbundling, which are typical examples of the specific processes exemplified above.

[0068] Importing or uploading a file from an external device to the information processing device is instructed, for example, by dragging and dropping a file icon displayed on the OS desktop screen or file system screen into the workspace area 110. The information processing device is configured by running file handling software on the OS, and the folders displayed on the OS desktop screen or OS file system screen are external from the perspective of the information processing device. There are also other methods, such as instructing file import from a menu (not shown) on the handling screen 100.

[0069] When an instruction to import a file is given in this way, if the file is in the second format (i.e., PDF in this example), the information processing device simply stores the file in association with the specified import destination. For example, if a file is dropped onto workspace area 110, the file is stored in association with workspace area 110. Also, when an instruction is given to import a file in a format other than the second format (i.e., the first format), the information processing device creates a file in the second format from the file, and stores and manages the created file in the second format in association with the file in the first format.

[0070] <Timing for creating the second format> In this embodiment, typically, when a first-format file is imported into the information processing device from an external device, a second-format file is created from the first-format file. However, the timing at which the second-format file is created is not limited to this. The second-format file may be created at any timing after an instruction to import the first-format file into the information processing device is given and before a user instructs the information processing device to execute a specific process on the icon 112 or the like representing the file.

[0071] <Operations on file icons> Icons 112, 114, 116, and 119 primarily represent files in a first format stored in association with the icons. That is, icons 112, 114, 116, and 119 are examples of first images representing files in a first format. When a user performs an operation on icons 112, 114, 116, and 119 as first images to instruct execution of a basic process, such as opening a file, the information processing device executes the operation on the file in the first format corresponding to the first image. For example, when an instruction to execute a file open process is given by double-clicking icon 112 or selecting "Open" in a context menu, the information processing device executes a process to open a file in the first format (in this example, the data format of a word processor software) stored in association with the icon 112. Another example of such a basic process is the process of extracting or downloading a file from within the information processing device (i.e., file handling software) to an external device. These basic processes can also be executed on files in the first format and are examples of second processes that differ from specific processes.

[0072] In response to this, the user may instruct the above-described specific process on icons 112, 114, 118, and 119 representing files in the first format. In this case, the information processing device executes the specific process not on the first-format file but on the second-format file stored in association with the first-format file. For example, if an instruction to execute a bundling process for bundling two files represented by icons 112 and 114 is issued, the information processing device executes the bundling process on the two second-format files corresponding to the two icons. In this way, an instruction to execute a specific process on a first image, i.e., icons 112, 114, 118, and 119, is an instruction issued by a user using a GUI to execute a specific process on the first image in the workspace area 110. Examples of operations to execute a specific process using the GUI include selecting a context menu while the first image is selected, dragging the first image and dropping it on the icon of another file, dragging the icon of another file and dropping it on the first image, etc.

[0073] Icon 116 represents a file in the second format, and there is no corresponding file in the first format. Icon 116 is an example of a second image representing a file in the second format. The information processing device accepts instructions to execute a process on icon 116, whether it is a basic process or a specific process, as if it were for a file in the second format. For example, when an open operation is performed on icon 116, the information processing device opens the file in the second format associated with that icon 116, and when a disassembly operation is performed, the information processing device performs disassembly processing on the file in the second format.

[0074] Note that for a document that displays an icon 112 or the like representing a first image, i.e., a file in the first format, the information processing device does not display an icon representing a second image, i.e., a file in the second format. That is, even if such a document contains both a file in the first format and a file in the second format as its internal format, the icon 112 or the like representing the document displays a mark 112b or the like representing the first format, but does not display a mark (e.g., the same as mark 116b) representing the second format. Furthermore, an icon representing the second format is not displayed separately from the icon representing the first format. This allows the user to recognize that only one icon 112 or the like representing a file in the first format exists for that document in the workspace area 110. If separate icons were displayed for each data format for a single document, the user would need to select a different icon depending on whether the process they want to execute is a specific process or not. In contrast, in this embodiment, only one icon is displayed for that document, eliminating the cumbersome process of selecting different icons depending on whether the process is a specific process or not.

[0075] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the overall processing procedure of the information processing device when a user performs an operation on an icon 112 or the like in the workspace area 110.

[0076] In this procedure, the information processing device first recognizes the target document image that is the target of the operation and the process that the user instructed to execute by that operation (step 200). The target document image is, for example, an icon 112 or the like that the user selected as the target of the operation by clicking a mouse. The process that the user instructed to execute is, for example, a process selected by the user from a menu on the handling screen 100, a button in the operation button area 120, or a context menu invoked from the icon 112 or the like. That is, the user instructs the target document image to execute a process on the corresponding document by operating the icon 112 or the like that represents the target document image. The information processing device may also recognize user instructions from gestures made on the icon. For example, the information processing device may recognize a double-click on an icon as an instruction to execute a process to open the document corresponding to that icon, or an operation of dragging an icon and dropping it on another icon as an instruction to execute a process to bundle the two documents represented by those icons. Note that if the target document image is a first image representing a file in a first format, the file corresponding to the target document image exists as a file in the first format and a file in a second format.

[0077] Next, the information processing device determines whether the target document image recognized in step 200 represents a file in the first format (step 202). If the result of this determination is No, the information processing device executes the processing recognized in step 200 on the file in the second format (i.e., PDF) corresponding to the target document image (step 208).

[0078] If the determination result in step 202 is Yes, the information processing device determines whether the process recognized in step 200 corresponds to the above-mentioned specific process (step 204). If the determination result is No, the information processing device executes the process recognized in step 200 on the first format file corresponding to the target document image (step 206).

[0079] For example, if the recognized process is a process for opening a file, the information processing device uses information about the file in the first format corresponding to the target document image to launch an application corresponding to the first format and have the application open the file. At this time, the information processing device may download the file in the first format stored in its own device to an external predetermined storage area, for example, onto the desktop screen of the OS, and have the application open the downloaded file in the first format.

[0080] On the other hand, if the determination result in step 204 is Yes, the information processing device executes the processing recognized in step 200 on the second format file corresponding to the target document image (step 208). For example, if an instruction to execute bundling processing on two selected icons 112, etc. is given, the information processing device executes bundling processing on the two second format files corresponding to those two icons 112, etc.

[0081] Note that a user may select multiple target document images and then instruct the execution of a process. For example, the user may click multiple icons 112, etc., in order to select them, and then press a button in the operation button area 120 to instruct the execution of a process corresponding to the button on the multiple documents represented by the multiple icons 112, etc. Furthermore, when the user drags and drops one icon 112, etc. onto another icon 112, etc., this is an operation instructing the execution of a process to bundle two documents represented by those two icons 112, etc. When an instruction to execute a process on multiple target document images is issued in this manner, the information processing device determines whether each of the multiple target document images is a first image representing a file in a first format (step 202). If the instructed process corresponds to a specific process (the determination result in step 204 is Yes), the information processing device executes the process using the second format files corresponding to each of the multiple target document images (step 208).

[0082] On the other hand, if the instructed process does not correspond to the specific process (the determination result in step 204 is No), the information processing device executes the process for those of the plurality of target document images that represent files in the first format using an application corresponding to the file in the first format. Also, for those target document images that represent files in the second format, the information processing device executes the process using the file in the second format. For example, this is the case when a user selects multiple icons 112 and drags and drops them all at once onto the desktop screen. In this example, for target document images that represent files in the first format (i.e., original format), only the file in the first format is retrieved onto the desktop screen (i.e., the corresponding file in the second format is not retrieved), whereas for target document images that represent files in the second format, the corresponding file in the second format is retrieved onto the desktop screen.

[0083] In this embodiment, when a basic process that can be performed on a first-format file is instructed to be performed on the icons 112, 114, 118, and 119 representing a first-format file, that process is performed on the first-format file. On the other hand, when a specific process that cannot be performed on a first-format file is instructed to be performed on one of the icons, that specific process is performed on the corresponding second-format file, not the first-format file. In this way, the process is switched between being performed on a first-format or second-format file depending on the type of process instructed on the icons 112, 114, 118, and 119.

[0084] Therefore, the user does not need to be aware of differences in file formats when performing basic processes such as opening, regardless of whether the file icon 112 or the like is inside or outside the handling screen 100 of the information processing device (for example, on the desktop screen of the OS). That is, when basic processes are performed, regardless of whether the icon 112 or the like is inside or outside the handling screen 100, the process is performed by an application corresponding to the first-format file represented by the icon 112 or the like. On the other hand, when a specific process that can only be performed with a second-format file is instructed on the icon 112 or the like on the handling screen 100, the specific process is performed using the second-format file.

[0085] It is also possible to consider a method of switching the processing target depending on the location within the icon 112 that is pointed to (i.e., indicated by a mouse, etc.), such as associating thumbnail image 112a with a file in the second format and mark 112b with a file in the first format, but this embodiment differs from this method.

[0086] That is, in this method, if thumbnail image 112a is selected by operating the mouse or the like, processing is performed on a file in the second format, and if mark 112b is selected, processing is performed on a file in the first format. In contrast, in this embodiment, whether a file in the first format or the second format is processed does not depend on which part of icon 112 is operated by the mouse or the like, but solely on the type of processing instructed to be performed. Therefore, no matter which part of icon 112 or the like is pointed to by the user, if the type of processing instructed to be performed by the user is the same, a file in the same format corresponding to that type will be selected for processing.

[0087] <Bundling processing> Next, each of the specific processes will be described in more detail. First, a detailed example of the bundling process will be described.

[0088] The bundling process is a process of combining multiple documents selected in the workspace area 110 into one document. The bundling process can be executed on the display in the workspace area 110, for example, in the following three ways. (1) Execute from the "Bundle" button in the operation menu or toolbar (the above-mentioned operation button area 120 is an example). For example, after selecting icons 112 of multiple documents in the workspace area 110, pressing the "Bundle" button executes bundling processing on the multiple documents. (2) In the workspace area 110, drag and drop the icon 112 or the like of the selected document onto the icon 112 or the like of the document to be bundled. (3) Select "Bundle" from the context menu that appears when you right-click or perform other operations.

[0089] If all documents to be bundled are in the second format (i.e., PDF in this example), the documents after the bundling process become an upgraded version of the first document and are overwritten on the first document. Documents to be bundled other than the first document are deleted and moved to a storage area for deleted files (the so-called trash can). The first document is the document selected first when the icons 112, etc. of documents to be bundled are selected in order on the workspace area 110.

[0090] If the documents to be bundled include documents in a data format other than the second format (i.e., documents in the first format), the processing procedure branches into the following two ways depending on whether the first document to be bundled is in the first format or the second format. (A) If the leading document is in the second format, the information processing device updates (that is, overwrites) the leading document with the bundled document, and leaves all original documents to be bundled as they are. (B) When the first document format is the first format, the information processing device creates and stores the bundled document as a new document, while leaving all of the original documents that were the subject of the bundling as they are.

[0091] If the documents to be bundled are in a format other than the second format, the information processing device notifies the user that a document in the second format will be created from the documents. This notification is displayed on the handling screen 100 in the form of a message such as, "After the process is executed, the document will be newly created as a PDF document. The original file will also remain." If the internal generation of the document in the second format fails, an execution error occurs.

[0092] While the bundling process is in progress, the information processing device applies a system lock to all documents involved. During the system lock, all users, including the user who instructed the execution of the bundling process, cannot operate on the documents until the process is complete. This system lock is released when the bundling process is complete.

[0093] If there is at least one user-locked document among the documents to be bound, and if the binding is performed by overwriting, the user lock will be maintained for the bound document. If the binding is performed by creating a new document, the user lock will not be applied to the bound document.

[0094] The bundling process proceeds, for example, as follows on the display of the handling screen 100. * When executing from the "Bundle" button or selecting "Bundle" from the context menu The user selects icons 112, etc. of multiple documents to be bundled in the workspace area 110. The selected icons 112, etc. are highlighted, and numbers 1, 2, and 3 indicating the order of selection are superimposed on the icons 112, etc. (see FIG. 3). After this, when the user performs an operation such as pressing the "Bundle" button or selecting "Bundle" from the context menu, the information processing device performs a bundling process on the selected documents. By performing the bundling process, the documents are combined in the order of selection described above, with the document numbered 1 as the first document, into a single document. 〇 Execution by drag and drop of documents The user selects one or more icons 112, etc. of documents to be bundled. In response, the one or more selected icons 112, etc. are highlighted, and numbers 1, 2, 3, etc. indicating the order of selection are displayed on the icons 112 (see FIG. 3). When one or more icons 112, etc. selected in this way are dragged and dropped onto the icons 112, etc. of documents to be bundled, a bundling process is performed on multiple documents consisting of the one or more selected documents and the document at the drag-and-drop destination. When the bundling process is performed, the documents are combined in the order of selection described above. The document at the drag-and-drop destination is then combined at the end.

[0095] The information processing apparatus determines the file name of the document generated as a result of the bundling process (that is, the bundled document), for example, as follows.

[0096] In other words, if the first document to be bundled is a document in the second format, the bundled document will inherit the file name of that first document. On the other hand, if the first document is not in the second format, the new document generated as a result of bundling will be given a file name that consists of the first document's file name followed by a suffix containing a predetermined number of consecutive numbers to avoid having the same name as the first document. For example, if the file name of the first document is "example.doc," the file name of the new document after bundling will be "example-00001.pdf."

[0097] During the bundling process, the information processing device may display the progress of the process in association with the icon 112 of at least one document to be bundled. This display may be in the form of, for example, an activity indicator (e.g., a bar display indicating the progress rate) or a numerical display of the number of processed pages relative to the total number of pages.

[0098] If there are attachments attached to the body of each document to be bundled (i.e., attachments for one entire document), the information processing device integrates the attachments as attachments to the body of the bundled document. On the other hand, if there are attachments attached to any page of any document to be bundled, they remain as attachments for that page of the bundled document.

[0099] Regarding document (file) attributes, if the first document to be bundled is in the second format, the bundled document will be overwritten on the first document, so the bundled document may inherit the attributes of the first document. In this case, the information processing device may notify the user that the bundled document will inherit the attributes of the first document before starting the bundling process and ask for confirmation. This can be done, for example, by displaying a message on the handling screen 100 such as, "When multiple documents are bundled, only the attributes of the first selected document will remain, and the attributes of the other documents will be discarded. Do you want to bundle them as is?" Note that the file attributes referred to here may include general document attributes such as title, author, subtitle, keywords, etc., as well as custom attributes defined by the user.

[0100] Four typical patterns of the bundling process described above are illustrated in Fig. 4. The images of documents such as document 400 shown in this figure are schematic representations of the icons of those documents on the workspace area 110.

[0101] Pattern (a) shows a case where an instruction is given to bundle two documents 400 and 402 in the second format (PDF format in this example) in that order. Both documents 400 and 402 are single-page documents, and document 402 has an attachment attached to the entire document. The presence of the attachment is indicated by a paper clip mark 404 on the icon of document 402. As a result of the bundling process, document 406 in the second format is generated, and this document is stored by overwriting document 400, which is the lead document. Since document 406 after bundling is a two-page document, a paper clip mark 408 indicating the presence of multiple pages is added to the icon of document 406. The attachment to document 402 is integrated into document 406 after bundling as an attachment to the entire document.

[0102] Pattern (b) shows a case where an instruction is given to bundle a one-page document 410 in a first format (in this example, a word processor data format) with a one-page document 412 in a second format, in that order. In this case, a bundled document 414 in the second format is generated as a new document, while the two documents 410 and 412 to be bundled remain in the information processing device. Document 414 is a two-page document, with document 410 on the first page and document 412 on the second page. Furthermore, document 410 in the first format is integrated into bundled document 414 as an attachment to the entire document. This attachment is represented by a paper clip mark 416 on the icon of document 414. When an operation to open a specified file, such as double-clicking on mark 416, is performed, the attachment is opened using an application compatible with the first format.

[0103] Pattern (c) shows a case where an instruction is given to bundle a second-format document 420 consisting of one page and a first-format document 422 also consisting of one page in this order. In this case, the bundled second-format document 424 is stored in the information processing device by overwriting the second-format document 420, which is the leading document. After the bundling process, the overwritten document 420 disappears from the information processing device (for example, it is moved to the trash), but the first-format document 422, which was bundled, remains stored in the information processing device. Furthermore, the first-format document 422 is integrated with the bundled document 424 as an attachment to the entire document.

[0104] Pattern (d) shows a case where an instruction is given to bundle two first-format documents 430 and 432, each consisting of one page, in that order. In this case, a second-format document 434 after bundling is generated as a new document, and the two documents 430 and 432 to be bundled remain in the information processing device. Document 434 is a two-page document, with document 430 as the first page and document 432 as the second page. Furthermore, the two first-format documents 430 and 432 are integrated into bundled document 434 as attachments to the entire document.

[0105] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the overall processing procedure for such bundling processing. This procedure begins when the user selects one or more documents to be bundled on the handling screen 100 and issues an instruction to execute the bundling process by pressing a bundling button or other method. Note that an image (i.e., icon 112, etc.) representing the document selected by the user to be bundled is called a target document image. Also, the document, i.e., file, represented by the target document image is also called a target document. The target document is a document in the internal format of the information processing device or a file in a second format. Also, there are cases where multiple target document images are selected in sequence in the workspace area 110 and an instruction to execute processing is issued for these multiple target document images. In such cases, the target document corresponding to the first selected of the multiple target document images is called the leading document.

[0106] When an instruction to execute bundling processing is received, the information processing device determines whether all files represented by the target document images are files in the second format (PDF in this example) (step 500). The processing procedure of this embodiment, including this step, includes a step of determining whether the files represented by the target document images are in the second format (or the first format). The determination in these steps may be made according to information indicating the data format of the file, which is included in the file (for example, included in the header information of the file).

[0107] If the result of the determination in step 500 is Yes, the information processing device executes a process of bundling the second format files of the target documents corresponding to the target document image to generate a bundled document.The information processing device then upgrades the top document with the bundled document (step 502).Next, the information processing device moves all of the target documents other than the top document to the trash can (step 504).

[0108] If the determination result in step 500 is No, the information processing device determines whether the leading document is a second-format file (step 506). If the determination result is Yes, the information processing device executes a process of bundling second-format files corresponding to the target document images, and upgrades the leading document using the resulting bundled document (step 508). Note that this bundling process is performed using second-format files corresponding to each target document image. The information processing device then stores the target documents other than the leading document (step 510). As a result of the bundling process, the display content of the target document image representing the leading document on the workspace area 110 may change due to the upgrade, but the display content of the other target document images does not change.

[0109] If the determination result in step 506 is No, the information processing device executes a process of bundling the second-format files corresponding to all target document images, and stores the resulting bundled document as a new document (step 512). This bundling process is performed using the second-format files corresponding to each target document image. The information processing device then maintains all target documents as stored (step 514). As a result of the bundling process, a new target document image, i.e., an icon, indicating the new document resulting from bundling is displayed in the workspace area 110. Furthermore, each target document image selected for bundling is displayed unchanged.

[0110] After step 504, 510, or 514, the information processing device determines, for each target document image, whether there is an attached file associated with the entire second-format file corresponding to that target document image (step 516). If there is an attached file associated with the entire second-format file corresponding to the target document image, the attached file is associated with the lead document after bundling (i.e., the attached file is integrated into the lead document) (step 518). Note that the new document created in step 512 also corresponds to the lead document referred to in step 518 and step 522 described below. For example, if attachments a1 and a2 are associated with the entire second-format file A corresponding to the target document image, and attachment b is associated with the entire second-format file B corresponding to the target document image, then in step 518, these three attachments a1, a2, and b are associated with the lead document. If the determination result in step 516 is No, step 518 is skipped.

[0111] Next, the information processing device determines whether there is an attached file associated with the page of the second-format file corresponding to each target document image (step 520). If the result of this determination is Yes, the information processing device associates the attached file associated with the page of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image with that page in the leading document (step 522). If the result of the determination in step 520 is No, step 522 is skipped.

[0112] Next, referring to FIG. 6, the detailed procedure of steps 502, 508, and 512 (that is, the process of actually bundling a plurality of files) in the procedure of FIG. 5, particularly the procedure including lock control (that is, exclusive control), will be illustrated.

[0113] As shown in Fig. 6, when the information processing device starts bundling the second-format files corresponding to the target document images, it first acquires a system lock for all files (first-format and second-format files) corresponding to those target document images (step 600). As a result, all target document images (and the target documents they represent) become inoperable by all users. Note that instead of completely prohibiting operations, editing may be prohibited but viewing may be permitted. After this system lock, the information processing device executes bundling processing for the second-format files corresponding to those target document images in a manner corresponding to each of steps 502, 508, and 512 (step 610).

[0114] Next, the information processing device determines whether the bundling process executed in step 610 is bundling by overwriting (i.e., upgrading the version of the top document) (step 612). The result of this determination is Yes in the cases of steps 502 and 508, and No in the case of step 512.

[0115] If the determination result in step 612 is Yes, the information processing device determines whether any of the files corresponding to the target document image are user-locked (step 614). A user-locked document can be edited by the user who set the user lock, but other users cannot edit it. If the determination result in step 614 is Yes, that is, if there is at least one user-locked document among the files corresponding to the target document image, the information processing device sets a user lock on the bundled documents (step 616). If there are no user-locked documents, no user lock will be set on the bundled documents. Then, the information processing device releases the system lock on files corresponding to all of the target document images (step 618).

[0116] If the determination result in step S612 is No, the information processing device determines whether or not there is a user-locked file corresponding to the target document image (step S620). If the determination result in step S620 is Yes, the information processing device releases the user lock from the user-locked file corresponding to the target document image (step 622). If there is no user-locked document, step 622 is skipped.

[0117] If the determination result in step 612 is No, the information processing device checks whether or not there is a document with the same name as the bundled document (in this case, a newly created document) among the second-format files corresponding to the target document image (step 624). If the determination result is Yes, the information processing device renames the bundled document according to a predetermined rule (step 626). For example, if the bundled document is set to inherit the file name of the first document among the second-format files corresponding to the target document image, the determination result in step 626 will be Yes, and the file name of the bundled document will be renamed. The renaming rule may be, for example, adding a suffix of a serial number with a predetermined number of digits to the document name before renaming. If the determination result in step 624 is No, step 626 is skipped. Then, the information processing device releases the system lock on files corresponding to all target document images (step 618).

[0118] After step 618, the information processing device proceeds to step 516 of the procedure in FIG.

[0119] <Disassembly process> Next, a detailed example of the disassembly process will be described.

[0120] The decomposition process is a process for dividing a document selected in the workspace area 110 into several documents according to a user's specification. The decomposition process is also called a division process.

[0121] The information processing device provides a spread screen for the spread processing UI. This screen is called up when the user selects the icon 112 or the like that is the target document image in the workspace area 110 and presses the "split" (or "split") button from the operation menu or toolbar, or selects "split" from the context menu.

[0122] After executing the "Disassembly Process", the results can be selected from the following two options on the "Disassembly Screen". (A) The second format file corresponding to the target document image is overwritten with the first document after splitting. (B) The second format file corresponding to the target document image is not changed, and all documents after division are newly created.

[0123] If the document image to be extracted is an image representing a file in a format other than the second format (in other words, an image representing a file in the first format), the above option selection is disabled, and the process result (B) is automatically selected. At this time, the user is notified with a message that the document will be converted to the second format (PDF in this example). This message could be something like, "After the process is completed, the document will be newly created as a PDF." If the internal conversion to the second format fails, an execution error occurs.

[0124] While the spreadsheet screen is displayed, the file corresponding to the document image to be spread is locked by the user currently operating the file. If another user has locked the file corresponding to that document image, the spreadsheet process cannot be performed. Furthermore, closing the spreadsheet screen releases the user lock. While the spreadsheet process is in progress, a system lock is placed on the file corresponding to the document image to be spread. Once the system lock is placed, all users, including the user who initiated the operation, cannot operate the document image until the spreadsheet process is complete. This system lock is released when the spreadsheet process is complete. If a user-locked document exists in the file corresponding to the document image to be spread, and the spreadsheet is performed by overwriting, the user lock will be maintained on the top document after spreadsheet processing. However, the user lock will not be placed on any new documents created as a result of the spreadsheet process.

[0125] The disassembly process proceeds, for example, as follows on the display of the handling screen 100.

[0126] When the user selects a document to be separated in the workspace area 110 and performs an operation such as pressing the "Separate" button or selecting "Separate" from the context menu, the information processing device displays the Separation screen. Separation is a process that is only possible for a single document with multiple pages. If multiple documents are selected, the Separation function is disabled.

[0127] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a separation screen 700. The separation screen 700 includes a thumbnail field 710 that displays thumbnail images 714a, 714b, and so on of each page of a second-format file corresponding to a document image to be separated. The number of the page from which thumbnail display should begin is input into a display start page specification field 720. The initial value of this display start page number is 1. When the separation screen 700 is first displayed, the thumbnail field 710 displays, from left to right, thumbnail images 714a, 714b, and so on of pages 1, 2, 3, and so on of the second-format file corresponding to the document image. If the user wants to begin displaying from a later page, the user inputs the page number from which the user wants to begin displaying into the display start page specification field 720 and presses a redisplay button 722. In response, thumbnail images of successive pages are displayed in the thumbnail field 710, starting from the specified start page. Dividing position marks 712a, 712b, 712c, etc. are displayed between thumbnail images 714a, 714b, etc. of adjacent pages in the thumbnail column 710. The dividing position marks 712a, etc. are in either an on or off state. The document is divided at the position of the dividing position mark 712a, etc. that is in an on state. In the illustrated example, the outline dividing position marks 712a, 712c are in an off state, and the solid black dividing position mark 712b is in an on state. The dividing position marks 712a, etc. can be switched on and off by clicking the mouse, etc.

[0128] Item 730 is used to instruct splitting in the "split by specified pages" mode. When check box 732 is turned on (i.e., a check mark is placed) by mouse operation or the like, this mode is turned on. When this mode is on, the information processing device splits the second-format file corresponding to the target document image into the number of pages input by the user in the split page number field 734. In the example of FIG. 7, this mode is on, and the number of split pages is specified as 2. In response to this specification, in the thumbnail field 710, the split position marks 712b located two pages from the beginning are in the on state.

[0129] In this way, the document division positions on the separation screen 700 can be specified in the following two ways. (α) Click on the division position mark 712a or the like on the thumbnail field 710 (each click toggles the mark on and off). (β) Check the check box 732 for item 730 ("Divide by page") and specify the number of pages in the number of pages to be divided box 734.

[0130] It is also possible to turn on the division position marks 712a at intervals of a specified number of pages using the method (β) above, and then re-edit the state of each division position mark 712a using the method (α) above.

[0131] Item 740 is used to instruct splitting in the "split the original document itself" mode. This mode is turned on when check box 742 is turned on by mouse operation or the like. When this mode is on, the information processing device splits the second-format file itself corresponding to the target document image of the split process selected in the workspace area 110. In this case, the second-format file corresponding to the target document image stored in the information processing device is overwritten by the first document of the multiple documents generated as a result of the splitting. On the other hand, when this mode is off, the information processing device creates a copy of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image and splits the copy. In this case, all of the multiple documents resulting from the splitting are stored as new documents in the file system of the information processing device.

[0132] In the illustrated example, the "Divide the original document itself" mode is off, so the start button 750 that instructs the start of the disassembly (splitting) process displays "Split copy." Conversely, if this mode is on, the start button 750 displays "Split."

[0133] If the target document image represents a file in the first format, the "Split the original document itself" mode cannot be selected, and the "Split the copy" mode is automatically selected.

[0134] If at least one of the division position marks 712a, etc. is in the ON state, the start button 750, which instructs the start of the disassembly process, becomes enabled, i.e., can be pressed. Clicking the start button 750 executes the disassembly process, and the display of the disassembly screen 700 ends accordingly. The workspace area 110, which is displayed as a result, is updated to show the results of the disassembly process. That is, an icon indicating the new document generated as a result of the disassembly is added to the workspace area 110.

[0135] When the cancel button 752 is pressed, the disassembly screen 700 is closed without executing the disassembly process.

[0136] When the display of the separation screen 700 is finished, the documents that were locked for the separation process are unlocked (i.e., released).

[0137] The information processing device determines the file name of the document generated as a result of the disassembly process, for example, as follows.

[0138] When a second-format file corresponding to the target document image is overwritten with the first document of the decomposition result, the first document inherits the original document name, i.e., the document name of the file corresponding to the target document image, and the second and subsequent documents are given document names with branch numbers according to the duplicate name avoidance rule. For example, the document name is given by adding a hyphenated suffix of a predetermined number of digits to the original document name.

[0139] If the second format file corresponding to the target document image is not overwritten and all documents resulting from the separation process are newly created, the document name will be given a branch number in accordance with the same name avoidance rule.

[0140] During the separation process, the information processing device may display the progress of the process in association with the target document image. This display may be in the form of, for example, an activity indicator or a numerical display of the number of processed pages relative to the total number of pages.

[0141] If there is an attachment attached to the body of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image of the unpacking process, that attachment is attached to the document containing the first page of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image among the documents in the unpacking result. Attachments associated with each page of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image are carried over to each document in the unpacking result, associated with the same page.

[0142] The attributes of the file corresponding to the target document image are inherited by all documents resulting from the extraction.

[0143] Three typical patterns of the disassembly process described above are shown in FIG.

[0144] Pattern (a) shows a case where an instruction is given to split a two-page second-format document 800 with an attached file into individual pages using the overwrite method (i.e., the "split the original document itself" mode). In this case, as a result of the splitting, one-page second-format documents 802 and 804 are generated, and document 802 is overwritten on document 800. The attached file is also carried over to the first document 802.

[0145] Pattern (b) shows a case where an instruction is given to separate a two-page document 810 in a first format (e.g., a word processor data format) into individual pages. In this case, in the separation process, the second format document contained in document 810 is divided into individual pages, and new one-page second format documents 812 and 814 are created. Furthermore, the original document 810 remains stored in the information processing device.

[0146] Pattern (c) shows a case where an instruction is given to separate a two-page second-format document 820 with an attached file into individual pages while leaving the original document. In this case, as a result of the separation, one-page second-format documents 822 and 824 are generated, and the original document 820 remains. The attached file is also attached to the first document 822 of the separated results.

[0147] An example of the overall procedure for such a disassembly process is shown in Fig. 9. This procedure starts when the user presses the start button 750 on the disassembly screen 700 to instruct execution of the disassembly process.

[0148] When an instruction to execute the disassembly process is received, the information processing device determines whether the target document image represents a file of the second format (PDF in this example) (step 900). In this determination, if the target document image corresponds to a file of the first format as well as a file of the second format, it is determined that the target document image does not represent a file of the second format. On the other hand, if the target document image corresponds to a file of the second format but not to a file of the first format, it is determined that the target document image represents a file of the second format.

[0149] If the result of the determination in step 900 is Yes, the information processing device further determines whether or not the setting to overwrite the results of the separation process is set (i.e., whether "Split the original document itself" is selected) (step 902). Next, the information processing device separates the second-format file corresponding to the target document image in accordance with the instructions on the separation screen 700, overwrites and saves the first document of the separation result in the second-format file corresponding to the target document image, and creates and saves the other documents of the separation result as new documents (step 904).

[0150] If the determination result in step 900 is No, the information processing device creates new documents for each of the results of the separation and stores them (step 906).

[0151] After step 904 or 906, the information processing device determines whether there is an attached file associated with the entire file in the second format corresponding to the target document image (step 908). If the result of this determination is Yes, the attached file is associated with the first document of the disassembled result (step 910). If the result of the determination in step 908 is No, step 910 is skipped.

[0152] Next, the information processing device determines whether there is an attached file associated with the page of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image (step 912). If the result of this determination is Yes, the information processing device associates the attached file associated with the page of the second-format file corresponding to the target document image with the page corresponding to that page in each document of the disassembled result (step 914). If the result of the determination in step 912 is No, step 912 is skipped.

[0153] The specific procedure for controlling the lock on the file corresponding to the target document image in steps 904 and 906 in the procedure of FIG. 9 may be similar to the lock control procedure in the bundling process shown in FIG. 6, so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0154] <Annotation Processing> An annotation process in which an information processing device associates annotation information of a file in the second format with the annotation information of the file in the second format is also an example of the specific process. For example, this annotation process will be described using the stamping process using the approval stamp button 124 on the handling screen 100 illustrated in FIG.

[0155] When a user selects a target document image on the workspace area 110 and presses the approval stamp button 124, the information processing device opens a second format file corresponding to the target document image and superimposes an image of the seal impression on a pre-stored approval stamp at a specified location on a specified page of the file.

[0156] Here, if the target document image represents a first-format file, a second-format file created from the first-format file is also associated with the target document image, and the information processing device therefore superimposes a seal imprint image on the second-format file. The information processing device updates the second-format file associated with the target document image to a version on which the seal imprint image is superimposed. As another example, the information processing device may create and store a new version of the second-format file on which the seal imprint image is superimposed. In this example, an image, i.e., an icon, representing the newly created second-format file is newly displayed in the workspace area 110. As yet another example, the user may be able to set as an option whether to update the second-format file associated with the target document image itself or to create a new second-format file.

[0157] The information processing device of the above embodiment is configured using, for example, a general-purpose computer. As illustrated in FIG. 10 , the computer serving as the base of the information processing device has a circuit configuration in which a processor 1002, a memory (main storage device) 1004 such as a random access memory (RAM), a controller for controlling an auxiliary storage device 1006 which is a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory, an SSD (solid state drive), or an HDD (hard disk drive), interfaces with various input / output devices 1008, a network interface 1010 for controlling connection to a network such as a local area network, and the like are connected via a data transmission path such as a bus 1012. A program describing the processing content of the above embodiment is installed in the computer via a network or the like and stored in the auxiliary storage device 1006. The information processing device of the present embodiment is configured by the processor 1002 executing the program stored in the auxiliary storage device 1006 using the memory 1004.

[0158] In the above embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0159] Furthermore, the operations of the processors in the above embodiments may not only be performed by a single processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. Furthermore, the operations of the processors are not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0160] In the above embodiments, files or documents that are the subject of specific processing are primarily files created using word processing or spreadsheet software, but this is merely an example. Files or documents that are the subject of processing in the above embodiments may also include, for example, video or multimedia data files. [Explanation of symbols]

[0161] 100: Handling screen 110: Workspace area 112: Icon 112a: Thumbnail image 112b: Word processor data format mark 112c : file name 114: Icon 114a: Thumbnail image 114b: Mark indicating spreadsheet data format 114d: Mark indicating that the document contains multiple pages 114e: Page back mark 114f: Page feed mark 114g :Page number 116: Icon 116b: Mark indicating the data format of the handling software 118: Icon 119: Icon 120: Operation button area 122: Print button 124: Approval stamp button 1002: Processor 1004: Memory 1006 :Auxiliary storage device 1008: Input / output device 1010: Network Interface 1012: Bus

Claims

1. Obtain a first format file that cannot perform a specific process; creating a second format file capable of executing the specific process based on the acquired first format file before an instruction to execute the specific process is issued; displaying a first image representing that the file is of the first format, and not displaying a second image representing that the file is of the second format; When execution of the specific process is instructed for the first image representing the file of the first format, the specific process is executed for the created file of the second format; If a file of a second format is created as a result of the specifying process, an image representing the created file of the second format is further displayed while the first image representing the file of the first format is still displayed. A program that causes a computer to perform a process.

2. when an instruction is given to execute a second process, which is executable on a file of the first format and is different from the specific process, on the first image, the second process is executed on the file of the first format; 2. The program according to claim 1, further causing the computer to execute a process.

3. 3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the specific processing is processing for combining a plurality of files to create a new file in the second format.

4. The program according to claim 3, further causing the computer to execute a process of attaching the first format file represented by the first image among the plurality of files to the new second format file created as a result of the specified process.

5. 3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the specific processing is processing for dividing one file into a plurality of files in a second format.

6. 3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the specific process is a process of creating a file in a second format to which an annotation is added.

7. When the file in the second format is acquired, a second image representing the file in the second format is displayed; When an instruction to execute the specific process is given for a plurality of images each representing a different file, the specific process is executed using the second format file created before the instruction to execute the specific process is given from the first format file for the first format file represented by each of the plurality of images, and using the second format file for the second format file represented by each of the plurality of images.

7. The program according to claim 1, which causes the computer to execute a process.

8. When the file in the second format is acquired, a second image representing the file in the second format is displayed; When an instruction to execute the second process is given for a plurality of images each representing a different file, the second process is executed using the first format file for the first format file represented by each of the plurality of images, and using the second format file for the second format file represented by each of the plurality of images.

3. The program according to claim 2, wherein the program causes the computer to execute a process.

9. a processor; The processor: Obtain a first format file that cannot perform a specific process; creating a second format file capable of executing the specific process based on the acquired first format file before an instruction to execute the specific process is issued; displaying a first image representing that the file is of the first format, and not displaying a second image representing that the file is of the second format; When execution of the specific process is instructed for the first image representing the file of the first format, the specific process is executed for the created file of the second format; If a file of a second format is created as a result of the specifying process, an image representing the created file of the second format is further displayed while the first image representing the file of the first format is still displayed.

1. An information processing device comprising:

Images