Electronic apparatus and data search method

Abstract

A reception unit (101) receives a search condition specifying one search column for performing a search from among a plurality of columns and search data for performing a search from among setting data for one search column of each of a plurality of rows. A search unit (102) determines, when the reception unit (101) receives the search condition, whether or not the setting data for one search column and the search data specified by the search condition are the same in each of the plurality of rows, and extracts a row in which the setting data and the search data are the same from among the plurality of rows. A control unit (100) causes a display unit (23) to display, in a predetermined display mode, the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in the row extracted by the search unit (102) from among the plurality of rows in accordance with the search condition, and causes the display unit (23) to display, in another display mode different from the predetermined display mode, the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows except for the row extracted by the search unit (102) from among the plurality of rows.

Description

Electronic device and data search method

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device and a data search method, and more particularly to a search refinement technique for narrowing down data from a plurality of data.

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a search system that performs a refined search to narrow down data specified by a user from among a plurality of data.

[0003] Generally, in a refined search, in a data table in which data is set in each of multiple columns of multiple rows, a determination is made as to whether the setting data for the search column is the same as the search data specified by the user for each of multiple rows in a search column specified by a user, and a refinement process is performed to extract rows in which the setting data and the search data are the same from the multiple rows.The setting data for each of the multiple columns for each of the rows extracted by the refinement process is then displayed on a display unit.As a result, the data information consisting of the setting data for each of the multiple columns in each row of the data table is reduced to only data information (refined data information) consisting of the setting data for each of the multiple columns in each row in which data matching the search data is set in the search column, making it easier to check the refined data information.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-161685

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned refined search, the user can easily check each piece of data information (narrowed data information) for which search data is set in the search column, but there may be data information that the user wants to check among the data information that is not refined.

[0006] To provide an apparatus and method for easily checking narrowed-down data information, without confusing the narrowed-down data information with the unnarrowed data information, and enabling a user to check what information is left out of the narrowed-down data information.

[0007] An electronic device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a display unit, a control unit that causes the display unit to display a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows, a reception unit that receives search conditions specifying one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from the setting data for the one search column in each of the plurality of rows, and a search unit that, when the reception unit receives the search conditions, determines whether the setting data for the one search column of the search condition is the same as the search data specified by the search condition in each of the plurality of rows, and extracts rows from the plurality of rows in which the setting data is the same as the search data, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows extracted by the search unit in a predetermined display mode, and causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows other than the row extracted by the search unit in a display mode different from the predetermined display mode.

[0008] A data search method according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a control step of displaying on a display unit a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows; a search condition receiving step of receiving search conditions that specify one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from setting data for the one search column in each of the plurality of rows; and a search step of, upon receiving the search conditions in the search condition receiving step, determining whether the setting data for the one search column of the search condition is the same as the search data specified by the search condition for each of the plurality of rows, and extracting from the plurality of rows rows in which the setting data is the same as the search data; wherein the control step causes the display unit to display on the display unit the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows extracted in accordance with the search conditions in the search step in a predetermined display mode, and causes the display unit to display on the display unit the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows excluding the row extracted in the search step in a display mode different from the predetermined display mode.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device comprising: a display unit; a control unit that causes the display unit to display a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows; a reception unit that receives search conditions specifying one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from setting data for the one search column in each of the plurality of rows; and a search unit that, when the reception unit receives the search conditions, determines whether the setting data for the one search column of the search conditions is the same as the search data specified by the search conditions in each of the plurality of rows, and extracts rows in which the setting data and the search data are the same, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows extracted by the search unit in accordance with the search conditions in a predetermined display mode, and the control unit When the setting data to be searched is displayed on the display unit in the predetermined display mode, the accepting unit accepts other search conditions that specify another search column different from the search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns, and search data to be searched from the setting data for the other search column for each of the rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, and when the accepting unit accepts the other search conditions, the search unit newly extracts, for each of the rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, rows in which the setting data for the other search column is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, and the control unit displays, on the display unit, the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in the other display mode different from the predetermined display mode, for the rows extracted by the search unit according to the rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions,

[0010] According to the present invention, the user can easily check the narrowed-down data information without confusing the setting data (narrowed-down data information) for each of multiple columns in a row where the setting data for the search column specified by the search conditions is the same as the search data specified by the search conditions, with the setting data (narrowed-down data information) for each of multiple columns in a row where the setting data for the search column specified by the search conditions is different from the search data specified by the search conditions, while also being able to check what information is left out of the narrowed-down information.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an information processing device that is a first embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a spreadsheet. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of data search processing by the information processing device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up window. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a spreadsheet for display. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a spreadsheet for display. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an updated spreadsheet in an information processing device that is a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up window. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a spreadsheet for display. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of data search processing by the information processing device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a spreadsheet for display in a modified example.

[0012] 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an information processing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the electronic device of the present invention.

[0013] The information processing device 1 is, for example, a personal computer. The information processing device 1 includes a control unit 10, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, a communication unit 24, and a storage unit 25. These components are capable of transmitting and receiving data or signals to and from each other via a communication bus.

[0014] The operation unit 22 is composed of a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and receives instructions input from the user based on the user's operation. The display unit 23 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), etc., and its operation is controlled by the control unit 100.

[0015] The communication unit 24 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data to and from external devices such as image forming devices and servers within a local area or on the Internet.

[0016] The storage unit 25 is a large-capacity storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various control programs, etc. A data search program 250 is installed in the storage unit 25. The storage unit 25 also stores a spreadsheet, an example of which is shown in Figure 2, which is a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

[0017] The control unit 10 includes a processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro processing unit (MPU). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a reception unit 101, and a search unit 102.

[0018] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, a reception unit 101, and a search unit 102 through operation of the processor in accordance with a data search program stored in the storage unit 25. However, the control unit 100 and the like can also be configured by hardware circuits, without relying on operation in accordance with the control program and data search program by the control unit 10. Unless otherwise stated below, the same applies to each embodiment.

[0019] The control unit 100 is responsible for overall operational control of the information processing device 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the operation unit 22, the display unit 23, the communication unit 24, and the storage unit 25, and performs drive control of each of these units. The control unit 100 causes the display unit to display a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows.

[0020] The accepting unit 101 accepts search criteria specifying one search string to be searched among multiple columns and search data to be searched among the setting data for that one search string in each of multiple rows. When the accepting unit 101 accepts the search criteria, the searching unit 102 determines whether the setting data for one search string in the search criteria is the same as the search data specified by the search criteria for each of the multiple rows, and extracts rows from the multiple rows in which the setting data is the same as the search data. The control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of the multiple columns in the rows extracted by the searching unit 102 in accordance with the search criteria in a predetermined display format, and causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of the multiple columns in the rows excluding the row extracted by the searching unit 102 in a display format different from the predetermined display format. Note that the different display format may be, for example, by changing at least one of the character thickness, size, font, background color, and line height. The same applies to other cases.

[0021] When the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of the multiple columns in the rows extracted by the search unit 102 in accordance with the search conditions in a predetermined display mode and the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of the multiple columns in the rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit 102 in another display mode, the accepting unit 101 accepts other search conditions that specify another search column different from the search column to be searched from among the multiple columns and search data to be searched from the setting data for the other search column in each of the rows extracted by the search unit 102 in accordance with the search conditions. When the accepting unit 101 accepts the other search conditions, the search unit 102 newly extracts rows in which the setting data for the other search column is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, for each of the rows extracted by the search unit 102 in accordance with the search conditions and also for each of the rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit 102. The control unit 100 controls the display unit 23 to display the setting data of each of the multiple columns in a predetermined display mode for rows extracted by the search unit 102 based on the search conditions, where the setting data of other search columns is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, and controls the display unit 23 to display the setting data of each of the multiple columns in a predetermined display mode for rows extracted by the search unit 102 based on the search conditions, where the setting data of other search columns is different from ... For rows other than the row in question that are extracted by the search unit 102 because the setting data of other search columns is the same as the search data specified by other search conditions, the setting data of each of the multiple columns is displayed on the display unit 23 in a different display mode, and for rows other than the row in question that are extracted by the search unit 102 based on the search conditions that are extracted by the search unit 102 because the setting data of other search columns is different from the search data specified by other search conditions, the setting data of each of the multiple columns is displayed in a third display mode that is different from the predetermined display mode and the other display mode.

[0022] The control unit 100 accepts input of data in each of multiple columns of rows displayed in a predetermined display mode in the data table, and does not accept input of data in each of multiple columns of rows displayed in other display modes.

[0023] The data search program has the functions of spreadsheet software. The processor of the control unit 10 operates in accordance with the data search program, causing the control unit 100 to execute various processes as spreadsheet software. For example, the control unit 100 executes processes such as creating a data table, tabulating data based on the data table, analyzing the data, and automatically calculating the data. As shown in FIG. 2 below, the control unit 100 inputs characters, numbers, formulas, etc. into a spreadsheet consisting of vertical and horizontal grids, and executes data processing according to instructions from the user. Data processing includes data tabulation, statistical processing, graph display, simulation, and data search. The control unit 100 displays a spreadsheet screen on the display unit 23, showing the spreadsheet as a data table into which characters, numbers, etc. have been input.

[0024] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a spreadsheet. The control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display a spreadsheet 50, in which characters, numbers, etc., shown in Fig. 2 have been entered. As shown in Fig. 2, items are set in each column of the spreadsheet 50.

[0025] In the spreadsheet 50, the item name "Company" is entered and set in the first row of one column (here, column A). Data (numbers, letters, symbols, etc.) indicating the content of the item are entered and set in each of the second and subsequent rows of column A. In this example, one of the company names "Company A," "Company B," or "Company C" is entered and set in each of the second and subsequent rows of column A.

[0026] Furthermore, in the spreadsheet 50, the item name "convenience" is entered and set in the first row of another column (here, column B) different from the first column (here, column A) in which the item "company" is entered. Data (numeric values, characters, symbols, etc.) indicating the content of the item are entered and set in each of the second and subsequent rows of column B. In this example, one of the conveniences "◯", "△", "×", "□", or "◇" is entered and set in each of the second and subsequent rows of column B. Each row corresponds to the data set in each column of the same row.

[0027] In addition, in the spreadsheet 50, a filter function is set for each of columns A and B, with filter mark FM1 shown in cell A1 in the first row of column A and filter mark FM2 shown in cell B1 in the first row of column B.

[0028] The control unit 100 also executes a filter function, which is one of the functions of the spreadsheet software, for narrowing down and displaying data that meets specific conditions.

[0029] Next, a description will be given of a data search process and a data search method performed by the information processing device 1. FIG.

[0030] It is assumed that the control unit 100 has started up a spreadsheet program and is displaying a spreadsheet (for example, the spreadsheet 50 shown in FIG. 2) on the display unit 23 (step S1).

[0031] 3 is performed, the user operates the mouse of operation unit 22 to issue a filter instruction to set a filter function for each of columns A and B in spreadsheet 50. Control unit 100 has already set a filter function for the cells in the second row and onward in column A, and for the cells in the second row and onward in column B, in accordance with this filter instruction. Information about the columns for which the filter function is set is stored in storage unit 25.

[0032] In step S1, for example, a user designates spreadsheet 50 by operating the mouse of operation unit 22, inputting a sheet designation instruction to operation unit 22, and control unit 100 causes spreadsheet 50 stored in memory unit 25 to be displayed on the display unit in accordance with this sheet designation instruction. When displaying spreadsheet 50 on display unit 23, control unit 100 causes display unit 23 to display setting data for columns A and B in each of rows 2 through 10 in a predetermined display mode (here, a display mode in which the background color is white; hereinafter, referred to as the "first display mode"). Control unit 100 accepts input of data for each of the multiple columns of the rows of spreadsheet 50 displayed in the first display mode.

[0033] While the control unit 100 is displaying a spreadsheet on the display unit 23, if the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to designate a filter mark for a column (search column) for narrowing down the data and input a search candidate data display instruction to the operation unit 22 (S2: YES), the control unit 100 displays the search candidate data for the search column on the display unit 23, for example, in a pop-up window (FIGS. 4 and 6), in accordance with the display instruction, and the reception unit 101 receives the search column as a search condition in response to the display instruction (step S3). In the first step S3, the search candidate data becomes the setting data for the search column for each of the rows (rows indicating the contents of items) of the spreadsheet specified in step S1. In the second and subsequent steps S3, the setting data becomes the setting data for the search column for each of the rows (narrowed down rows) extracted in the previous step S5. The control unit 100 then displays a pop-up window on the display unit 23 in which the user can designate one or more pieces of data (one or more search data) to narrow down from the search candidate data.

[0034] When the search candidate data is displayed in the search string (when the pop-up window is displayed), the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to specify one or more search data to be narrowed down from the search candidate data in the search string, and when the search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the reception unit 101 receives the search data instruction and thereby receives one or more search data as search conditions (step S4).

[0035] Next, when the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to specify data narrowing and inputs a data narrowing instruction to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs a search process (step S5). The search process of step S5 is as follows.

[0036] The search unit 102 has a built-in mismatch counter that counts the number of search strings for which the set data does not match the search data for each row. At the start of the data search process in Figure 3, the mismatch counter is "0".

[0037] The search unit 102 performs the next search process in order for each row for which the "mismatch counter = 0" at the start of the processing in step S5. The search unit 102 determines whether the setting data for the search column of the target row is the same as any of the one or more search data. If the setting data is the same as any of the one or more search data, the search unit 102 extracts the target row as a row to be narrowed down. In this case, the search unit 102 does not update the count value of the mismatch counter corresponding to the row extracted as a row to be narrowed down. On the other hand, if the setting data is not the same as any of the one or more search data, the search unit 102 does not extract the target row as a row to be narrowed down, but extracts it as a row that is not subject to narrowing down, and increments the count value of the mismatch counter corresponding to the row extracted as a row that is not subject to narrowing down by 1.

[0038] Furthermore, the search unit 102 performs the following search process in order for each row for which the "mismatch counter is not equal to 0." The search unit 102 determines whether the setting data for the search column of the target row is the same as any of one or more search data. The search unit 102 extracts rows for which the setting data is the same as any of one or more search data, and does not update the count value of the mismatch counter corresponding to the identical row. On the other hand, the search unit 102 extracts rows for which the setting data is not the same as any of the one or more search data, and increments the count value of the mismatch counter corresponding to the not identical row by one.

[0039] Next, the control unit 100 updates the spreadsheet for display and displays the updated spreadsheet for display on the display unit 23 (step S6). The update and display process of the spreadsheet in step S6 is as follows. For each row for which the "mismatch counter = 0" at the start of the process of step S6, i.e., for each row extracted in this step S5 (narrowed-down rows), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each column of the row in a first display mode (here, a display mode with a white background). Furthermore, for each row for which the "mismatch counter ≠ 0" at the start of the process of step S6, i.e., for each row other than the row extracted in this step S5 (narrowed-down rows), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each column of the row in a display mode (here, a display mode with a gray background) different from the first display mode, depending on the count value of the mismatch counter. Here, the control unit 100 uses a display mode different from the first display mode, in which when "mismatch counter = 1", the background color is a light gray (hereinafter referred to as the "second display mode"), and when "mismatch counter = 2", the background color is a darker gray than the gray used in the second display mode corresponding to "mismatch counter = 1" (hereinafter referred to as the "third display mode"), and so on, in which the background color becomes darker gray as the count value of the mismatch counter increases. The control unit 100 arranges the count values ​​of the mismatch counters from the top of the display spreadsheet in ascending order and displays them on the display unit 23.

[0040] If an instruction to display search candidate data has not been input to operation unit 22 (S2: NO), and the user operates the mouse on operation unit 22 to specify that the spreadsheet display should be terminated, and an instruction to terminate the spreadsheet display is input to operation unit 22 (S7: YES), control unit 100 terminates the display of the spreadsheet on display unit 23 in accordance with this instruction to terminate the display, and terminates the data search process of Fig. 3. On the other hand, if an instruction to terminate the spreadsheet display has not been input to operation unit 22 (S7: NO), control unit 100 continues to display the spreadsheet on display unit 23, and returns to the processing of step S2.

[0041] A specific example of data search processing by the information processing device 1, the flowchart of which is shown in FIG. 3, will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2, 4 to 7. FIG.

[0042] 2 on the display unit 23 (step S1). In the spreadsheet 50, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of columns A and B in each of the second to tenth rows in the first display mode (here, a display mode in which the background color is white).

[0043] When the control unit 100 is displaying the spreadsheet 50 of Figure 2 on the display unit 23, if the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to specify the filter mark FM1 in cell A1 of column A and input an instruction to display search candidate data to the operation unit 22 (S2: YES), the control unit 100 will display the search candidate data in search column A on the display unit 23 in a pop-up window (a pop-up window in which all check boxes CK11 to CK14 are checked in the pop-up window P1 of Figure 4), in accordance with this display instruction, and the reception unit 101 will receive the search condition "search column A" in response to this display instruction (step S3). In this pop-up window P1, the control unit 100 displays the setting data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C" for search column A in each of the second and subsequent rows (rows indicating the contents of items) of the spreadsheet 50 as search candidate data, displays check boxes CK11 to CK14 for specifying search data from among the search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C," and displays an "OK" button BT11 and a "Cancel" button BT12. The check box CK11 is for specifying all of the search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C" as search data at once, and the check boxes CK12, CK13, and CK14 are for specifying the search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C" as search data.

[0044] When the pop-up window P1 is displayed, the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 on the check boxes CK11 to CK14 of the pop-up window P1 to specify the search data "Company A" and "Company B" from the search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C," and when the search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the acceptance unit 101 accepts the search data instruction and thereby accepts the search data "Company A" and "Company B" of the search criteria (step S4). At this time, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 23, and the pop-up window P1 of Figure 4 is displayed on the display unit 23, with the check boxes CK12 and CK13 checked and the check boxes CK11 and CK14 not checked.

[0045] When the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to click the "OK" button BT11 in the pop-up window P1 in Fig. 4 to specify data narrowing and input the data narrowing instruction to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs the above-described search process (step S5). In this specific example, the search unit 102 determines that the data set for the search column A in each of the second through seventh rows of the spreadsheet 50 in Fig. 2 ("Company A" or "Company B") is the same as the search data "Company A" or "Company B" and extracts the row as a row to be narrowed down. In this case, the search unit 102 does not update the count value of the mismatch counter for each of the second through seventh rows (the "mismatch counter" remains at 0). The search unit 102 determines that for each of the rows from row 8 to row 10 of the spreadsheet 50 in Figure 2, the setting data for search column A in the row ("Company C") is not the same as either of the search data "Company A" or "Company B", and does not select the row as a row to be narrowed down, but rather as a row that is excluded from narrowing down, and increments the count value of the mismatch counter for each of rows from row 8 to row 10 by 1, thereby setting "mismatch counter = 1".

[0046] In addition, when the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 on the "Cancel" button BT12 of the pop-up window P1 to specify that the pop-up window P1 should not be displayed, and a hide instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the control unit 100 terminates the display of the pop-up window P1 on the display unit 23 in accordance with the hide instruction.

[0047] Next, control unit 100 performs the update process for the display spreadsheet described above, and causes display unit 23 to display the updated display spreadsheet 50A of Fig. 5 (step S6). In this specific example, for each of the second to seventh rows (rows with "mismatch counter = 0") of the narrowed-down spreadsheet 50 of Fig. 2, control unit 100 causes the setting data of each column in that row to be displayed in the corresponding row of the second to seventh rows of spreadsheet 50A of Fig. 5 in the first display mode (here, a display mode with a white background). Furthermore, for each of the rows from the 8th to the 10th row of the spreadsheet 50 in FIG. 2 that have not been narrowed down (rows with "mismatch counter = 1"), the control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the corresponding row among the 8th to the 10th row of the spreadsheet 50A in FIG. 5 in a second display mode corresponding to "mismatch counter = 1" (here, a display mode in which the background color is light gray).

[0048] When the control unit 100 is displaying the spreadsheet 50A of Figure 5 on the display unit 23, if the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to specify the filter mark FM2 in cell B1 of column B and input an instruction to display search candidate data to the operation unit 22 (S2: YES), the control unit 100 will display the search candidate data in search column B on the display unit 23 in a pop-up window (a pop-up window in which all check boxes CK21 to CK24 are checked in the pop-up window P2 of Figure 6), in accordance with this display instruction, and the reception unit 101 will receive the search condition "search column B" in response to this display instruction (step S3). In this pop-up window P2, the control unit 100 displays the setting data "o," "△," and "X" for search column B in each of the second to seventh rows, which are narrowed down by the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, as search candidate data, displays check boxes CK21 to CK24 for specifying search data from the search candidate data "o," "△," and "X," and displays an "OK" button BT21 and a "Cancel" button BT22. The check box CK21 is for specifying all of the search candidate data "o," "△," and "X" as search data at once, and the check boxes CK22, CK23, and CK24 are for specifying the search candidate data "X," "△," and "o" as search data.

[0049] When the pop-up window P2 is displayed, the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to select the search data "o" from among the search candidate data "o", "△", and "x" in the check boxes CK21 to CK24 of the pop-up window P2, and when the search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the acceptance unit 101 accepts the search data instruction and thereby accepts the search data "o" of the search criteria (step S4). At this time, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 23, so that the check box CK24 is checked and the pop-up window P2 of Figure 6 is displayed on the display unit 23, with the check boxes CK21 to CK23 not checked.

[0050] When the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to click the "OK" button BT21 in the pop-up window P2 of Figure 6 to specify data narrowing, and an instruction to narrow down the data is input to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs the above-mentioned search process (step S5).

[0051] 5, which are narrowed down by the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, search unit 102 determines that the data set for search column B in the second and fifth rows ("o") in each of the rows is the same as the search data "o," and extracts the rows as rows to be narrowed down. In this case, search unit 102 does not update the count values ​​of the mismatch counters for the second and fifth rows (the mismatch counters remain at 0). The search unit 102 determines that the setting data ('△' or 'X') for the search column B in each of the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh rows is not the same as the search data '〇', and extracts the row as a row that is not included in the narrowing down process rather than as a row to be narrowed down.The search unit 102 increments the count value of the mismatch counter for each of the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh rows by 1, thereby setting the mismatch counter to 1.

[0052] 5 that are not narrowed down by the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, the search unit 102 extracts row 8 as a row in which the setting data ("◯") for search column B in the row is the same as the search data "◯," and does not update the count value of the mismatch counter corresponding to row 8 that was extracted as being the same (the "mismatch counter" remains at 1). The search unit 102 extracts rows 9 and 10 as rows in which the setting data ("□" or "◇") for search column B in the row is not the same as the search data "◯," and increments the count value of the mismatch counter for each of rows 9 and 10 that were extracted as being different by 1, thereby setting the "mismatch counter" to 2.

[0053] When the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to click the "Cancel" button BT22 on the pop-up window P2, specifying that the pop-up window P2 should not be displayed, and the hide instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the control unit 100 terminates the display of the pop-up window P2 on the display unit 23 in accordance with the hide instruction.

[0054] Next, the control unit 100 performs the above-described update process of the display spreadsheet, and causes the display unit 23 to display the updated display spreadsheet 50B of FIG. 7 (step S6).

[0055] In this specific example, for each of the second and fifth rows (rows with "mismatch counter = 0") of the narrowed-down spreadsheet 50A of Figure 5, the control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the corresponding second and third rows of the spreadsheet 50B of Figure 7 in a first display mode (here, a display mode with a white background color).

[0056] In addition, for the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh rows (rows where "mismatch counter = 1") of spreadsheet 50A in FIG. 5, control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in a second display mode (here, a display mode with a light gray background color) corresponding to "mismatch counter = 1", and for the eighth row (row where "mismatch counter = 1") of spreadsheet 50A in FIG. 5, control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in a first display mode (here, a display mode with a light gray background color) corresponding to "mismatch counter = 1", in the corresponding rows of the fourth to eighth rows of spreadsheet 50B in FIG. 7.

[0057] Furthermore, for each of the 9th and 10th rows (rows with "mismatch counter = 2") of spreadsheet 50A in Figure 5, control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the corresponding row among the 9th and 10th rows of spreadsheet 50B in Figure 7 in a third display mode corresponding to "mismatch counter = 2" (here, a display mode in which the background color is a darker gray than the gray in the second display mode corresponding to "mismatch counter = 1").

[0058] For example, the mismatch counter for the fifth row of the spreadsheet 50A in FIG. 5 becomes the mismatch counter for the third row of the spreadsheet 50B in FIG.

[0059] The control unit 100 accepts data input by the user using the keyboard of the operation unit 22 for each column of a row displayed in the first display mode, and updates the data for the column of the row for which data input was accepted to the entered data. On the other hand, the control unit 100 does not accept data input by the user using the keyboard of the operation unit 22 for each column of a row displayed in a display mode other than the first display mode (such as the second display mode or the third display mode).

[0060] According to the embodiment described above, the control unit 100 displays the setting data for each of the multiple columns (narrowed data information) on the display unit 23 in a first display mode for each row in which the setting data for the search string in all of the search strings is the same as the search data in the search string, and displays the setting data for each of the multiple columns (non-narrowed data information) in a display mode (e.g., a second display mode, a third display mode) different from the first display mode for each row in which the setting data for the search string in at least one of the search strings is not the same as the search data in the search string. This allows the user to easily check the narrowed data information without confusing the narrowed data information with the non-narrowed data information, while also being able to check what information is included in the non-narrowed data information.

[0061] In addition, the control unit 100 uses different display modes depending on the number of search columns in the same row where the setting data does not match the search data, for example, the second display mode when the number of search columns that do not match is "1", and the third display mode when the number of search columns that do not match is "2", so that the user can easily understand from the display mode how far the data information that has not been narrowed down is from the data information that was intended to be narrowed down.

[0062] Second Embodiment The following describes an information processing device 1 that is a second embodiment of the electronic device according to the present invention. In the information processing device 1 of the first embodiment, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the data in a different display mode when the data is no longer narrowed down, whereas in the information processing device 1 of the second embodiment, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the data in a different display mode in accordance with an instruction from the user after the data is no longer narrowed down.

[0063] The control unit 100 causes the display unit to display a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows. The accepting unit 101 accepts search conditions specifying one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from the setting data for one search column in each of the plurality of rows. When the accepting unit 101 accepts the search conditions, the search unit 102 determines, for each of the plurality of rows, whether the setting data for one search column in the search conditions is the same as the search data specified by the search conditions, and extracts from the plurality of rows rows those rows in which the setting data and the search data are the same.

[0064] The control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display, in a predetermined display format, setting data for each of a plurality of columns in a row extracted by the search unit 102 from among the plurality of rows in accordance with the search conditions.

[0065] When control unit 100 causes display unit 23 to display, in a predetermined display mode, setting data for each of a plurality of columns in rows extracted by search unit 102 in accordance with the search conditions, receiving unit 101 receives other search conditions that specify another search column different from the search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns, and search data to be searched from the setting data for the other search column in each of the rows excluding the rows extracted by search unit 102 in accordance with the search conditions. When receiving unit 101 receives the other search conditions, search unit 102 newly extracts rows in each of the rows excluding the rows extracted by search unit 102 in accordance with the search conditions, in which the setting data for the other search column is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions.

[0066] For rows other than those extracted by the search unit 102 based on the search conditions, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of the multiple columns in a display mode different from the predetermined display mode for rows extracted by the search unit 102 where the setting data for other search columns is the same as the search data specified by other search conditions.

[0067] A specific example of this will be described with reference to Figures 2, 8 to 10. The search unit 102 incorporates a narrowing-down counter and a narrowing-down failure display counter. The narrowing-down counter is a counter that indicates narrowed-down rows from the second row onwards in the spreadsheet 50, and the count value of the narrowing-down counter is either "1" (a value indicating narrowed-down) or "0" (a value indicating no narrowing-down), and is set to "narrowing-down counter = 1" at the start of the data search process. The narrowing-down failure display counter is a counter that indicates rows that are to be displayed on the display unit 23 in accordance with a user instruction from among the rows that have not been narrowed down, and the count value of the narrowing-down failure display counter is either "1" (a value indicating that they are to be displayed) or "0" (a value indicating that they are not to be displayed), and is set to "narrowing-down failure display counter = 0" at the start of the data search process.

[0068] It is assumed that the control unit 100 starts up spreadsheet software and, similarly to the first embodiment described above, causes the display unit 23 to display the spreadsheet 50 of Fig. 2. In the spreadsheet 50, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data for each of columns A and B in each of the second to tenth rows in a first display mode (here, a display mode in which the background color is white).

[0069] When the control unit 100 is displaying the spreadsheet 50 of Figure 2 on the display unit 23, and the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to specify a filter mark FM1 in cell A1 of column A and input an instruction to display search candidate data into the operation unit 22, the control unit 100, in accordance with this display instruction, causes the display unit 23 to display search candidate data (hereinafter referred to as ``search candidate data for narrowing down'' as appropriate), which is a candidate target for narrowing down data in the search column A, in a pop-up window (a pop-up window in which all of the check boxes CK11 to CK14 in the pop-up window P1 of Figure 4 are checked), and the reception unit 101 receives the search condition ``search column A'' in accordance with this display instruction. In this pop-up window P1, the control unit 100 displays the setting data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C" for the search column A in each of the rows from the second row onwards of the spreadsheet 50 in a first display mode (here, a display mode in which the background color is white) as narrowing-down search candidate data, displays check boxes CK11 to CK14 for specifying search data (hereinafter referred to as "narrowing-down search data" as appropriate) from the narrowing-down search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C," and displays an "OK" button BT11 and a "Cancel" button BT12.

[0070] When the pop-up window P1 is displayed, the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 on the check boxes CK11 to CK14 of the pop-up window P1 to specify the narrowing-down search data "Company A" and "Company B" from the narrowing-down search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C." When the search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the reception unit 101 receives the search data instruction and thereby receives the narrowing-down search data "Company A" and "Company B" as the search conditions. At this time, the control unit 100 controls the display of the display unit 23, and the pop-up window P1 of FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 23.

[0071] When the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to click the "OK" button BT11 in the pop-up window P1 in Fig. 4 to specify data narrowing and input a data narrowing instruction to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 determines that the data set for the search column A in each of the second through seventh rows of the spreadsheet 50 in Fig. 2 ("Company A" or "Company B") is the same as the narrowing search data "Company A" or "Company B" and extracts the row as a row to be narrowed down. In this case, the search unit 102 does not update the narrowing count value for each of the second through seventh rows (the "narrowing counter" remains at 1). The search unit 102 determines that for each of the eighth to tenth rows of the spreadsheet 50 in Figure 2, the setting data for the search column A in the row ("Company C") is not the same as either of the narrowing search data "Company A" or "Company B", and does not treat the row as a row to be narrowed down, but as a row that is excluded from narrowing down, and updates the count value of the narrowing counter for each of the eighth to tenth rows from "1" to "0".

[0072] Next, control unit 100 causes display unit 23 to display spreadsheet 50C for display in Fig. 8. In this specific example, control unit 100 causes the setting data for each column in each of the narrowed-down rows from row 2 to row 7 of spreadsheet 50 in Fig. 2 (rows for which the count value of the narrowing-down counter is maintained at 1) to be displayed in the corresponding row among rows 2 to row 7 of spreadsheet 50C in Fig. 8 in a first display mode (here, a display mode in which the background color is white). As shown in spreadsheet 50C in Fig. 8, the setting data for each column in each of rows 8 to row 10 of spreadsheet 50 in Fig. 2 that have not been narrowed down (rows for which the count value of the narrowing-down counter has been updated to 0) is not displayed on display unit 23. However, the control unit 100 etc. continues to store the setting data for each column in the rows from the 8th to the 10th rows of the spreadsheet 50 in Figure 2 (rows in which the count value of the narrowing down counter has been updated to 0).

[0073] When the control unit 100 is displaying the spreadsheet 50C of FIG. 8 on the display unit 23 and the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to specify a filter mark FM2 in cell B1 of column B and inputs an instruction to display search candidate data into the operation unit 22, the control unit 100, in accordance with the display instruction, causes a pop-up window (a pop-up window P3 of FIG. 9 in which check boxes CK32 to CK34 are checked and check boxes CK31, CK35, and CK36 are not checked) to display on the display unit 23 the narrowing-down search candidate data in the search column B and the search candidate data in the search column B that searches for rows that are not narrowed down and are to be displayed in a second display mode (for example, a display mode in which the background color is a light gray) that is different from the first display mode (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "search candidate data for displaying unnarrowed rows"), and the receiving unit 101 receives the search condition "search column B" in response to the display instruction.

[0074] In this pop-up window P3, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data "◯," "△," and "X" for the search column B in each of the second through seventh rows obtained by narrowing down the search column A using the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in a first display mode (here, a display mode with a white background) as narrowing-down search candidate data. The control unit 100 also causes the display unit 23 to display the setting data "□" and "◇," which are not included in the setting data for the search column B in each of the second through seventh rows obtained by narrowing down the search column A using the search data "Company A" and "Company B," but are included in the setting data for the search column B in each of the eighth through tenth rows that were not narrowed down as a result of narrowing down the search column A using the search data "Company A" and "Company B," in a second display mode (here, a display mode with a gray background) different from the first display mode, as narrowing-down display search candidate data.

[0075] The control unit 100 also displays check boxes CK31 to CK36 on the display unit 23 for specifying narrowing-down search data from among the narrowing-down search candidate data "◯", "△", and "X", and for specifying search data (hereinafter, referred to as "missing narrowing-down display search data" as appropriate) from the missed-narrowing display search candidate data "□" and "◇". The control unit 100 also displays an "OK" button BT31 and a "Cancel" button on the display unit 23. Here, the check boxes CK35 and CK36 for the missed-narrowing display search candidate data "□" and "◇" can also be specified.

[0076] When the pop-up window P3 is displayed, the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 on the check boxes CK31 to CK36 of the pop-up window P3 to specify the narrowing down search data "○", "△", or "×" from the narrowing down search candidate data "○", "△", or "×", and specifies the search data for displaying missed narrowing down "□" from the search candidate data for displaying missed narrowing down "□" or "◇", and when the search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the reception unit 101 accepts the search data instruction and thereby accepts the narrowing down search data "○", "△", or "×" of the search conditions and the search data for displaying missed narrowing down "□".

[0077] When the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to click the "OK" button BT31 in the pop-up window P2 to specify data narrowing and input a data narrowing instruction into the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs a search process using narrowing search data for each of the rows from the second to seventh rows of the spreadsheet 50C of Figure 8 that have been narrowed down using the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in the search column A (rows for which the narrowing counter counts "1" at the start of the search process), and performs a search process using search data for displaying missed narrowing down for each of the rows from the eighth to tenth rows of the spreadsheet 50 of Figure 2 that have not been narrowed down and are not displayed in the spreadsheet 50C of Figure 8 (rows for which the narrowing counter counts "0" at the start of the search process).

[0078] 8, which have been narrowed down by the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, the search unit 102 determines that the data set for each row ("◯", "△", or "X") for search column B in that row is the same as the narrowing down search data "◯", "△", or "X", and extracts that row as a narrowing down row. In this case, the search unit 102 does not update the count values ​​of the narrowing down counters for the second and seventh rows (the "narrowing down counter" remains at 1).

[0079] The search unit 102 determines that, among the rows 8 to 10 of the spreadsheet 50 of Figure 2 (rows in which the count value of the narrowing-down counter is "0" at the start of the search process) that are not displayed in the spreadsheet 50C of Figure 8, which is narrowed down using the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, in the 9th row, the setting data ("□") for search column B in the row is the same as the search data "□" for displaying missed narrowing-down, and sets the count value of the counter for displaying missed narrowing-down to "1", and determines that the setting data ("◯" or "◇") for search column B in the row is not the same as the search data "□" for displaying missed narrowing-down, and sets the count value of the counter for displaying missed narrowing-down to "0".

[0080] Next, the control unit 100 performs processing to update the display spreadsheet, and causes the display unit 23 to display the updated display spreadsheet 50D of FIG.

[0081] In this specific example, for each of the second to seventh rows of the narrowed-down spreadsheet 50A of Fig. 8 (rows for which the count value of the narrowing-down counter is "1" at the start of the spreadsheet update and display process), the control unit 100 displays the setting data for each column of that row in a first display mode (here, a display mode with a white background) in the corresponding row of the second to seventh rows of the spreadsheet 50D of Fig. 10. Also, for the ninth row of the spreadsheet 50 of Fig. 2 (the row for which the count value of the omission-in-narrowing display counter is "1" at the start of the spreadsheet update and display process), which is not displayed in the spreadsheet 50C of Fig. 8, the control unit 100 displays the setting data for each column of that row in a second display mode (here, a display mode with a gray background) different from the first display mode, in the eighth row of the spreadsheet 50D of Fig. 10.

[0082] By doing this, in the pop-up window P3 of Figure 9, the user can distinguish between the convenience settings that have been set for the companies narrowed down in column A and the convenience settings that have been set only for the companies that have not been narrowed down in column A, and in the spreadsheet 50D of Figure 10, the user can check companies with convenience settings that have not been set for the companies narrowed down in column A while distinguishing them from the data information of the companies narrowed down in column A.

[0083] Next, the data search process by the information processing device 1 described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 8 to Fig. 10 will be further described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing the flow of the data search process by the information processing device 1. At the start of the data search process in Fig. 11, the count values ​​of the narrowing-down counters corresponding to the second and subsequent rows of the spreadsheet 50 are set to "1", and the count values ​​of the unsuccessful narrowing-down display counters are displayed as "0".

[0084] It is assumed that the control unit 100 has started up the spreadsheet software and is displaying a spreadsheet on the display unit 23 (step S11).

[0085] While the control unit 100 is displaying a spreadsheet on the display unit 23, if the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to designate a filter mark for a column (search column) for narrowing down the data and input an instruction to display search candidate data to the operation unit 22 (S12: YES), the control unit 100, in accordance with the display instruction, causes the display unit 23 to display narrowing-down search candidate data and narrowing-down failure display search candidate data for the search column, for example, in a pop-up window ( FIGS. 4 and 9 ), and the accepting unit 101 accepts the search column as a search condition in response to the display instruction (step S13). In the first step S13, the narrowing-down search candidate data is the setting data for each search column in the second and subsequent rows (rows indicating the contents of the items) of the spreadsheet designated in step S11, and there is no narrowing-down failure display search candidate data. In step S13 from the second time onwards, the search candidate data for narrowing down is the setting data for the currently specified search column for each of the rows extracted in the immediately preceding step S15 (narrowed down rows), and the search candidate data for displaying missed narrowing down is the setting data for the currently specified search column for each of the rows that were not narrowed down in the immediately preceding step S15.

[0086] When the narrowing-down search candidate data and the missed-narrowing search candidate data are displayed in the search string (when the pop-up window is displayed), the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to specify at least one of one or more narrowing-down search data from the narrowing-down search candidate data and one or more missed-narrowing search data from the missed-narrowing search candidate data, and when a search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the reception unit 101 receives the search data instruction and thereby receives one or more narrowing-down search data and one or more missed-narrowing search data as search conditions (step S14).

[0087] Next, when the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to specify data narrowing and inputs a data narrowing instruction to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs a search process (step S15). The search process of step S15 is as follows.

[0088] The search unit 102 performs the next search process in order for each row for which the "narrowing counter = 1" at the start of the search process in step S15. The search unit 102 determines whether the setting data for the search column of the target row is the same as any one or more pieces of narrowing search data. If the setting data is the same as any one or more pieces of search data, the search unit 102 extracts the row as a row to be narrowed down. In this case, the search unit 102 does not update the count value of the narrowing counter. On the other hand, if the setting data is not the same as any one or more pieces of narrowing search data, the search unit 102 does not extract the row as a row to be narrowed down, and sets the count value of the narrowing counter to "0".

[0089] Furthermore, the search unit 102 sequentially performs the next search process on each row for which the narrowing-down counter = 0 at the start of the search process in step S15. The search unit 102 determines whether the setting data for the search column of the target row is the same as any of one or more search data for displaying unsatisfied results. If the setting data is the same as any of one or more search data for displaying unsatisfied results, the search unit 102 extracts the row as a row that has not been narrowed down but is to be displayed, and sets the count value of the unsatisfied results display counter to "1". On the other hand, if the setting data is not the same as any of the one or more search data for displaying unsatisfied results, the search unit 102 sets the count value of the unsatisfied results display counter to "0". At the start of the detection process in step S15, the count values ​​of the unsatisfied results display counters for all rows are set to "0". Note that this process may not be performed. Furthermore, in step S15, the targets for narrowing down using the narrowing search data may be not only rows for which the "narrowing counter = 1" at the start of the search process in step S15, but also rows for which the "narrowing counter = 0" and the "missed narrowing display counter = 1" at the start of the search process in step S15. In this case, for rows for which the "narrowing counter = 0" and the "missed narrowing display counter = 1" at the start of the search process in step S15, if the setting data of the search column in that row is the same as the narrowing search data, the "narrowing counter = 0" and the "missed narrowing display counter = 1" may remain and the row may be displayed in the second display mode in the next step S16. If the setting data of the search column in that row is not the same as the narrowing search data, the "narrowing counter = 0" and the "missed narrowing display counter = 0" may be set so that the row is not displayed in the second display mode in the next step S16.

[0090] Next, the control unit 100 updates the spreadsheet for display and displays the updated spreadsheet for display on the display unit 23 (step S16). The update and display process of the spreadsheet in step S16 is as follows. For each row for which the "narrowing counter = 1" at the start of the process in step S16, i.e., for each row extracted in step S15 (narrowed-down rows), the control unit 100 displays the setting data for each column of the row in a first display mode (here, a display mode with a white background). Furthermore, for each row for which the "omitted-narrowing display counter = 1" at the start of the process in step S16, the control unit 100 displays the setting data for each column of the row in a second display mode (here, a display mode with a gray background) different from the first display mode, which indicates a state in which operations using the keyboard or mouse of the operation unit 22 are not accepted.

[0091] If an instruction to display search candidate data has not been input to operation unit 22 (S12: NO), and the user operates the mouse on operation unit 22 to specify that the spreadsheet display should be terminated, and an instruction to terminate the spreadsheet display is input to operation unit 22 (S17: YES), control unit 100 terminates the display of the spreadsheet on display unit 23 in accordance with this instruction to terminate the display, and terminates the data search process of Fig. 11. On the other hand, if an instruction to terminate the spreadsheet display has not been input to operation unit 22 (S17: NO), control unit 100 continues to display the spreadsheet on display unit 23, and returns to the processing of step S12.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible.

[0093] For example, in the above embodiments, the control unit 100 has been described as not accepting data input by the user using the keyboard of the operation unit 22 for each column of a row displayed in a display mode other than the first display mode of the spreadsheet (e.g., the second display mode, the third display mode, etc.), but this is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 100 may accept data input by the user using the keyboard of the operation unit 22 for each column of a row displayed in a display mode other than the first display mode (e.g., the second display mode, the third display mode, etc.), and update the data in the column of the row for which data input has been accepted with the entered data.

[0094] In each of the above embodiments, the control unit 100 may cause the display unit 23 to display information representing the search column (e.g., information indicating which column is the search column). The control unit 100 may also cause the display unit 23 to display information related to the narrowed-down results for the rows. For example, in the spreadsheet 50B of FIG. 7 , the display unit 23 may display that the second and third rows match the search data in columns A and B, the fourth to seventh rows match the search data in column A but do not match the search data in column B, the eighth row matches the search data in column B but do not match the search data in column A, and the ninth and tenth rows do not match the search data in either column A or column B. In addition, in the spreadsheet 50B of Figure 7, the second and third rows may be displayed as matching the search data in columns A and B, the fourth through eighth rows as matching the search data in only one of columns A and B, and the ninth and tenth rows as matching neither the search data in columns A nor B.

[0095] In the first embodiment described above, when the setting data for each of the multiple columns of a row that has not been narrowed down is displayed on the display unit 23, a display mode is used according to the number of columns that do not match the search conditions for that row, but this is not limited to this and may be, for example, as follows:

[0096] It is assumed that the control unit 100 is causing the display unit 23 to display the spreadsheet 50 of FIG.

[0097] When the control unit 100 is displaying the spreadsheet 50 of Figure 2 on the display unit 23, if the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to specify a filter mark FM1 in cell A1 of column A and input an instruction to display search candidate data into the operation unit 22, the control unit 100 will display the search candidate data in search column A on the display unit 23 in a pop-up window P1 in accordance with this display instruction, and the reception unit 101 will receive the search condition "search column A" in response to this display instruction.

[0098] When the pop-up window P1 is displayed, the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to check the check boxes CK11 to CK14 of the pop-up window P1 to specify the search data "Company A" and "Company B" from among the search candidate data "Company A," "Company B," and "Company C," and when a search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the reception unit 101 receives the search data instruction and thereby receives the search data "Company A" and "Company B" of the search conditions.

[0099] When the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to click the "OK" button BT11 in the pop-up window P1 in Figure 4 to specify data narrowing and input a data narrowing instruction to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs a search process. In this specific example, the search unit 102 determines that the data set for the search column A in each of the rows from row 2 to row 7 of the spreadsheet 50 in Figure 2 ("Company A" or "Company B") is the same as either the search data "Company A" or "Company B" and extracts the row as a row to be narrowed down. In this case, the search unit 102 does not update the count value of the mismatch counter for each of the rows from row 2 to row 7 (the "mismatch counter" remains "0"), and does not update the count value of the non-narrowed-down timing counter for each of the rows from row 2 to row 7 (the "non-narrowed-down timing counter" remains "0"). The search unit 102 determines that the data set for search column A in each of rows 8 to 10 of the spreadsheet 50 in Figure 2 ("Company C") is not the same as either of the search data "Company A" or "Company B," and does not select the row as a narrowed-down row, but rather as a row that has been excluded from narrowing down. The search unit 102 increments the count value of the mismatch counter for each of rows 8 to 10 by 1, thereby setting "mismatch counter = 1." The search unit 102 also updates the count value of the non-narrowed-down timing counter for each of rows 8 to 10 to "1" (a value indicating that the row has been excluded from narrowing down in the first narrowing down).

[0100] Next, control unit 100 updates the spreadsheet for display and displays the updated spreadsheet 50A of Fig. 5 on display unit 23. In this specific example, for each of the second to seventh rows of the narrowed-down spreadsheet 50 of Fig. 2 (rows where "Mismatch counter = 0" and "Out-of-narrowed-down column counter = 0"), control unit 100 displays the setting data for each column in that row in the corresponding row of the second to seventh rows of spreadsheet 50A of Fig. 5 in a first display mode (here, a display mode where the background color is white). Furthermore, for each of the rows from the 8th to the 10th row of the spreadsheet 50 in Figure 2 that have been excluded from the narrowing down process (rows where "mismatch counter = 1" and "outside narrowing down column counter = 1"), the control unit 100 displays the setting data for each column in that row in the corresponding row among the 8th to the 10th rows of the spreadsheet 50A in Figure 5 in a second display mode (here, a display mode in which the background color is light gray) that corresponds to "mismatch counter = 1" and "outside narrowing down column counter = 1".

[0101] When the control unit 100 is displaying the spreadsheet 50A of Figure 5 on the display unit 23, if the user operates the mouse on the operation unit 22 to specify the filter mark FM2 in cell B1 of column B and input an instruction to display search candidate data into the operation unit 22, the control unit 100 will display the search candidate data in search column B on the display unit 23 in a pop-up window P2 in accordance with this display instruction, and the reception unit 101 will receive the search condition "search column B" in response to this display instruction.

[0102] When the pop-up window P2 is displayed, the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 to check the check boxes CK21 to CK24 of the pop-up window P2 to specify search data "O" from among the search candidate data "O", "△", and "X", and when the search data instruction is input to the operation unit 22, the reception unit 101 receives the search data instruction and thereby receives the search data "O" of the search condition.

[0103] When the user operates the mouse of the operation unit 22 on the "OK" button BT21 of the pop-up window P2 in FIG. 6 to specify narrowing down the data, and inputs a data narrowing down instruction to the operation unit 22, the search unit 102 performs search processing.

[0104] 5, which have been narrowed down by the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, search unit 102 determines that the data set for search column B in each of rows 2 and 5 ("o") in the rows is the same as the search data "o", and extracts the rows as rows to be narrowed down. In this case, search unit 102 does not update the count values ​​of the mismatch counters in each of rows 2 through 7 (the "mismatch counter" remains at "0"), and does not update the count values ​​of the non-narrowed down timing counters in each of rows 2 through 7 (the "non-narrowed down timing counter" remains at "0").

[0105] The search unit 102 determines that the setting data ("△" or "X") for the search column B in each of the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh rows is not the same as the search data "◯," and extracts the row as a row that has been excluded from the narrowing-down process rather than as a row to be narrowed down. The search unit 102 increments the count value of the mismatch counter for each of the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh rows by 1, thereby setting the "mismatch counter = 1." The search unit 102 also updates the count value of the non-narrowing-down timing counter for each of the second through seventh rows to "2" (a value indicating that the row has been excluded from the narrowing-down process in the second narrowing-down process).

[0106] 5 that were excluded from the narrowing down of the search data "Company A" and "Company B" in search column A, search unit 102 extracts row 8 as a row in which the setting data ("〇") for search column B in the row is the same as the search data "〇", and does not update the count value of the mismatch counter corresponding to row 8 that was extracted as the same ("mismatch counter = 1" remains). Search unit 102 does not update the count value of the non-narrowed down timing counter corresponding to row 8 ("non-narrowed down timing counter = 1" remains).

[0107] Furthermore, the search unit 102 extracts the ninth and tenth rows as rows in which the setting data ("□" or "◇") for search column B in the row is not the same as the search data "◯", and increments the count value of the mismatch counter for each of the ninth and tenth rows extracted as not being the same by 1, so that "mismatch counter = 2". The search unit 102 does not update the count value of the non-narrowed-down timing counter corresponding to each of the ninth and tenth rows (the "non-narrowed-down timing counter = 1" remains).

[0108] Next, the control unit 100 performs processing to update the display spreadsheet, and causes the display unit 23 to display the updated display spreadsheet 50E of FIG. 12 (step S6).

[0109] In this specific example, for each of the second and fifth rows of the narrowed-down spreadsheet 50A of Figure 5 (rows where ``mismatch counter = 0'' and ``out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 1''), the control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the corresponding second and third rows of the spreadsheet 50E of Figure 12 in a first display mode (here, a display mode where the background color is white).

[0110] Furthermore, for each of the third, fourth, sixth, and seventh rows of the spreadsheet 50A of FIG. 5 (rows where "mismatch counter = 1" and "out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 2"), the control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the corresponding row among the fourth to seventh rows of the spreadsheet 50E of FIG. 12 in a third display mode that corresponds to "mismatch counter = 1" and "out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 2" and is different from the first and second display modes.

[0111] Furthermore, for the eighth row of the spreadsheet 50A in FIG. 5 (the row where "mismatch counter = 1" and "out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 1"), the control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the eighth row of the spreadsheet 50E in FIG. 12 in a second display mode corresponding to "mismatch counter = 1" and "out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 2".

[0112] Furthermore, for each of the 9th and 10th rows (the row where "mismatch counter = 2" and the "out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 1") of the spreadsheet 50A of Fig. 5, the control unit 100 displays the setting data of each column in that row in the corresponding row among the 9th and 10th rows of the spreadsheet 50E of Fig. 12 in a fourth display mode that is different from the first, second, and third display modes corresponding to the row where "mismatch counter = 2" and "out-of-narrowed-down timing counter = 1". In this way, in the modified example, the setting data of each of the multiple columns in the row is displayed using a different display mode depending on the combination of the count value of the mismatch counter and the count value of the out-of-narrowed-down timing counter. In addition, in the Nth (N is an integer greater than or equal to 3) narrowing down process in which search data is specified for a certain column, the count value of the mismatch counter for each row in which the setting data for that certain column is not the same as the search data is incremented by 1, and for each row in which the "mismatch counter = 0" at the start of the Nth narrowing down process, the count value of the out-of-narrowing timing counter for the row in which the setting data for that certain column is not the same as the search data is updated from "0" to "N".

[0113] The configuration and processing shown in the first embodiment using Figures 1 to 7, the configuration and processing shown in the second embodiment using Figures 8 to 11, and the configuration and processing shown in the modified example are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and it is not intended to limit the present invention to these configurations and processing.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising: a display unit; a control unit that causes the display unit to display a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows; a reception unit that receives search conditions that specify one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from setting data for the one search column in each of the plurality of rows; and a search unit that, when the reception unit receives the search conditions, determines whether the setting data for the one search column of the search condition is the same as the search data specified by the search conditions for each of the plurality of rows, and extracts rows from the plurality of rows in which the setting data is the same as the search data, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows extracted by the search unit in accordance with the search conditions in a predetermined display mode, and causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit in a display mode different from the predetermined display mode.

2. When the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions in the predetermined display mode and causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit in the other display mode, the accepting unit accepts other search conditions that specify another search column different from the search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from the setting data for the other search column for each of the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, and when the accepting unit accepts the other search conditions, the search unit newly extracts rows in which the setting data for the other search column is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, for each of the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions and for each of the rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit, and the control unit Among the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, for rows extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, display the setting data of each of the multiple columns on the display unit in the predetermined display mode; Among the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, for rows extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is different from the search data specified by the other search conditions, display the setting data of each of the multiple columns on the display unit in the predetermined display mode; Among the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions other than the row, for rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, for rows extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, display the setting data of each of the multiple columns on the display unit in the other display mode; and displaying the setting data of each of the plurality of columns in a third display mode different from the predetermined display mode and the other display mode, for rows extracted by the search unit based on the search conditions other than the row in question and extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is different from the search data specified by the other search conditions.The electronic device according to claim 1 .

3. When the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions in the predetermined display mode and causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit in the other display mode, the accepting unit accepts other search conditions that specify another search column different from the search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from the setting data for the other search column for each of the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, and when the accepting unit accepts the other search conditions, the search unit newly extracts rows in which the setting data for the other search column is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, for the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions and for each of the rows extracted by the search unit excluding the row, and the control unit among the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, for rows extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, display the setting data of each of the multiple columns on the display unit in the predetermined display mode; among rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, for rows extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, display the setting data of each of the multiple columns on the display unit in the other display mode; among the rows extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, for rows extracted by the search unit because the setting data of the other search columns is different from the search data specified by the other search conditions, display the setting data on the display unit in a third display mode different from the predetermined display mode, the other display mode, and the third display mode;2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, for rows other than the row extracted by the search unit based on the search conditions, if the setting data of the other search columns is different from the search data specified by the other search conditions, the setting data of each of the plurality of columns is displayed on the display unit in a fourth display mode different from the predetermined display mode, the other display mode, and the third display mode.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the control unit accepts input of data in each of the plurality of columns of the row displayed in the predetermined display mode in the data table, and does not accept input of data in each of the plurality of columns of the row displayed in the other display mode.

5. An electronic device comprising: a display unit; a control unit that causes a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of each of a plurality of rows to be displayed on the display unit; a reception unit that receives search conditions that specify one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from setting data for the one search column in each of the plurality of rows; and a search unit that, when the reception unit receives the search conditions, determines whether the setting data for the one search column of the search conditions is the same as the search data specified by the search conditions in each of the plurality of rows, and extracts rows in which the setting data is the same as the search data from the plurality of rows, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in the rows extracted by the search unit in accordance with the search conditions in a predetermined display mode; and when the control unit is causing the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in the rows extracted by the search unit in accordance with the search conditions in the predetermined display mode, an accepting unit accepting other search conditions that specify another search column different from the search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns, and search data to be searched from the setting data for the other search column for each of rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions; when the accepting unit accepting the other search conditions, the search unit newly extracts, for each of rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions, rows in which the setting data for the other search column is the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions; and the control unit, for rows excluding the row extracted by the search unit according to the search conditions and extracted by the search unit as having the setting data for the other search column the same as the search data specified by the other search conditions, causes the display unit to display the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in a display mode different from the predetermined display mode.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the different display modes are displayed on the display unit with at least one of the following different display modes: character thickness, size, font, background color, and line height.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display unit to display information indicating which of the plurality of columns the one search column belongs to.

8. A data search method comprising: a control step of displaying on a display unit a data table in which data is set in each of a plurality of columns of a plurality of rows; a search condition receiving step of receiving search conditions that specify one search column to be searched from among the plurality of columns and search data to be searched from setting data for that one search column in each of the plurality of rows; and a search step of, upon receiving the search conditions in the search condition receiving step, determining whether or not the setting data for the one search column of the search condition is the same as the search data specified by the search conditions for each of the plurality of rows, and extracting from the plurality of rows rows in which the setting data is the same as the search data, wherein in the control step, the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows extracted in accordance with the search conditions in the search step is displayed on the display unit in a predetermined display mode, and the setting data for each of the plurality of columns in rows of the plurality of rows excluding the row extracted in the search step is displayed on the display unit in a display mode different from the predetermined display mode.

Images