JPH0944393A - File management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To share and manage electronic documents and files in the distributed environment consisting of various electronic document file generators. SOLUTION: A filing model control means 2 performs the fundamental operation of filing and classification of electronic documents and files so that an external file management means 3 can handle documents in external different file systems as internal documents, and an attribute contents management means 4 manages attributed required for filing and contents of actual documents, thereby accessing various external file systems 7a and 7b on the distributed environment in the same manner as the internal file system. When a processing request acceptance means 1 accepts a processing request, the filing model control means 2 accesses electronic documents or files of external file systems or the internal file system in accordance with file information stored in the attribute contents management means 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file management device for managing files, and in particular, a paper manuscript, an electronic manuscript created by a computer or a facsimile device, and various media including moving images and audio information are mixed. The present invention relates to a file management device in a distributed office environment. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the term file is used in a broad sense including electronic documents and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to manage files in a distributed environment, a file server system or optical file system on a network is used to freely create directories or drawers / folders, etc. It can be shared by storing it in.

As a device for managing files, there is, for example, a device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-188241. This device has a function of simultaneously performing search and substance retrieval processing for different data via the data management server means, the entity server means, and the network means, and efficiently performs the data retrieval processing and the retrieval processing. It is designed to be executed at the same time to reduce the waiting state.

Further, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 4-312140, the location information of a folder to be classified into a file and the location information of a file for identifying a file that can be stored in the folder are defined.
Disclosed is a file management device for automatically classifying files according to their location information. In this file management device,
When storing a file, the file is automatically classified into that folder according to the location information of the folder defined in the file, and if the corresponding folder does not exist,
Create a new folder.

Further, the structured document classification device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-89173 searches documents based on the structural element information of the structured document, and classifies the searched documents by the specified structural element information. With, it is possible to specify a plurality of structural element information, and thereby a multi-level classification structure can be created.

[0006]

However, the file management system using the file server system or the optical file system on the network has the following problems.

The file to be managed must depend on the function of the file system provided by the operating system on which the file server system or the optical file system operates. For this reason, when files are created by a wide variety of workstations and personal computers, which are increasing in number in recent offices, a distributed system suitable for each is constructed, and a file server system or optical file system is created for each. Must be managed by setting up.

When files are managed on each file server system or optical file system, a drawer / folder name that can be understood by a group member is created for each work group, and a file related to the drawer / folder name is created there. Will be stored and shared. For this reason, in order to manage the files by classifying them, the drawer / folder names having meanings that can be understood and the complexity of creating them need to be created.

The purpose of a file management device such as a shared file server system or an optical file system in a conventional distributed environment is to manage files in a shared manner. To use a shared file, you need to find the corresponding file, copy or move it to your workstation or personal computer, or convert the content to a file that suits your environment. . So even though you share files,
It cannot be actually used unless the complicated operation as described above is performed.

File management devices such as a shared file server system and an optical file system in a conventional distributed environment can handle only the attributes defined by the file system provided by the operating system on which they operate, so that the user can add new attributes. It is not possible to add and manage meaningfully for each user or workgroup. In other words, the target file is found by following a predetermined drawer / folder, and the file existing under the user's intention is copied or moved to another drawer / folder for different management and classified. Even in this case, it is possible to operate only with a common file name in different file systems. However, it is difficult to remember the contents only from the file name.

When various shared file server systems and optical file systems are present on a network in a distributed environment, there are communication methods and file system access methods suitable for the systems. Therefore, when a user accesses a file on the above system in a plurality of different environments, the environment of each communication means and access method is prepared, and further the authentication method and security suitable for the system are dealt with. It is necessary to perform user registration (user account registration) for multiple systems.

Further, the file management apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-312140 stores in a folder based on the location information. Basically, the folder hierarchy must be created by the user. The location information of whether to be classified into is in a format that allows the folder to specify one-to-one. For this reason, when classifying files with a multi-level classification structure, for example, first classify by file type such as "specifications" and "minutes", and then further classify by "project". Corresponding location information must be created. In this file management device, if the corresponding location information does not exist,
A new folder is created, but since the created folder does not specify where to create the folder, it is only listed flat. As described above, the classification based on the location information of the file is one step, and it is not possible to make detailed settings such as classification into another folder under a certain folder. Further, when the attribute is changed or the document is deleted, there is no choice but to perform the reclassification in order to reflect the result in the classification structure. Moreover, there is no explicit description in this publication that a plurality of classifications are defined at the same time.

Further, in the structured document classification device of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-89173, a classification structure by folders is created based on the structural element information of the structured document, and the documents are classified. Unlike the file management apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-312140, a multi-level classification structure can be created by designating a plurality of classification attributes. However, in the multi-level classification, the folders classified by file type always have a structure such that they are classified by "project", for example. Below, you cannot make detailed settings such as sorting by “date”. When attributes are changed or documents are deleted, there is no choice but to perform reclassification to reflect the results in the classification structure. Moreover, since only the classification based on the structural element information is provided, it is not possible to perform arbitrary hierarchical classification of the user in a normal file system.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and stores and retrieves a file according to a user's usage in an office environment that realizes distributed information processing constructed by various file creation devices. , It is possible to manage sharing for retrieval and store the stored information for existing files existing on various existing file server systems and optical file systems, and access the stored information to access existing networks. It is an object of the present invention to provide a file management device capable of accessing files on the file server system or optical file system.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a file management device which can be classified according to the purpose, including files on existing file server systems and optical file systems existing on the network. And

Further, the present invention provides a file management apparatus capable of classifying files including existing file server systems and optical file systems existing on a network and performing different classifications simultaneously according to purposes. The purpose is to do.

[0017]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of a file management apparatus of the present invention which achieves the above object. The file management device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of file creation devices 6a for creating files such as document files.
6b, a processing request receiving unit 1 that receives a normalized processing request such as file registration, search, and retrieval, and a basic filing operation according to the received processing request, and a file to be classified from a hierarchical structure of nodes. Filing model control means 2 for performing classification from one or more viewpoints using a filing model including the following classification structure,
When the processing request needs to access the external file systems 7a and 7b, it has a communication means for accessing each of the different external file systems, and provides reference information for accessing a file of the external file system. External file management means 3 for creating and requesting registration as a reference file in the form of an internal file system, and attributes for managing file attributes and contents necessary for the filing and filing model and the reference file requested for registration. The content management means 4 is included.

The file management apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a classification structure composed of a hierarchical structure of nodes for classifying files, attributes of files to be classified, the node and files classified immediately below the node. Storage means (410, 420 in FIG. 23) for storing the link information when a link is set between them and the classification condition of each node,
Setting means for setting the classification condition for the node (see FIG. 2).
3 430), and when a node having the value of the attribute as the classification attribute of the classification target file as the value of the classification condition is not in the classification structure, the creation of the node having the value of the classification attribute, and the created node A creating unit (440 in FIG. 23) that associates with a node related to the node, a node that classifies the file is determined from the attribute of the file to be classified and the classification condition of the node, and the file is classified as the file. It is composed of automatic classification means (450 in FIG. 23) for setting a link with the determined node.

Furthermore, the file management device according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a classification structure having a hierarchical structure of nodes for classifying files, attributes of files to be classified, the node and files classified immediately below the node. Link information when a link is set between, the classification condition of each node,
A storage unit (610 in FIG. 36) that stores the classification target file management information that manages the classification target file and the link information when a link is set between the classification target file management information and one or more of the classification structures. , 620),
A classifying condition for the node, setting means for setting a link between the classification target file management information and one or more classification structures, and an attribute value as a classification attribute of the classification target file. When there is no node having the value of the classification condition as the value of the classification condition in the classification structure, a creating means that creates a node having the value of the classification attribute and associates the created node with a node related to the node (see FIG. 36). 640), the attributes of the file to be classified, the file management information to be classified, and the classification conditions of the node to determine the nodes of the one or more classification structures for classifying the files, and the node determined to be the file. It is composed of automatic classification structure means (650 in FIG. 36) for setting a link between them.

Further, in the file management apparatus of the fourth invention, when the file is registered in the node in the configuration of the first to third inventions, the attribute of the user setting is not set among the attributes of the file. In some cases, at least the storage attribute setting means (460 in FIG. 23 or 660 in FIG. 36) for setting the attribute value of the classification condition of the node is provided. Preferably, the attribute values of the classification conditions of all upper nodes of the node are also set.

Further, in the file management apparatus of the fifth invention, the classification conditions possessed by the node in the configurations of the first to fourth inventions are composed of classification attributes and classification constraints, and the node is A directory or a drawer and a folder, and the files to be classified are managed by a cabinet.

Preferably, the nodes are linked to each other, the files are linked to the nodes, and the links between the classification target file management information (eg, a part of cabinet management information) and one or more classification structures are mutually linked. By having an identifier of, it is a bidirectional link.

[0023]

According to the first invention, the external file management means 3
An external file system 7a that exists in a distributed environment,
7b is made accessible and a reference file (preferably having difference file information) having an attribute of the internal file format is created, so that information of files existing in those external file systems is the same as that of the internal file system. To be able to handle. When the processing request receiving unit 1 receives the processing request from the file creating devices 6a and 6b, the filing model control unit 2 accesses the file information stored in the attribute content management unit 4, and the file information is an external file system file. If so, the file can be acquired from the corresponding external file system through the external file management means 3 and can be used as a file of the internal file system for the user.

Further, according to the file management apparatus of the second invention, the setting means defines the classification under each hierarchical level. The automatic classification unit determines and classifies the node for classifying the file based on the file attribute stored in the storage unit and the classification condition (eg, drawer / node) for the node set by the setting unit. At this time, the node is created / deleted depending on whether or not there is a node having an attribute to be classified by the creating means as a classification condition. The hierarchical structure of the classified nodes and the link information are stored in the storage means. By classifying them according to the value of the attribute of the file, it is possible to reduce the load for file management on the existing file server system or optical file system existing on the network.

Further, according to the file management device of the third aspect of the invention, the storage means further stores classification target file management information (for example, cabinet management information) for managing the files to be classified, and the storage means stores the classification target file management information. File management information (for example, cabinet) to be classified and 1
By specifying the above classification structure (for example, the drawer as the top node), the files on the existing file server system or optical file system existing on the network can be classified at the same time according to the purpose. be able to.

According to the fourth invention, when a file is designated and stored in a node (for example, folder) having a classification structure, for example, when the file is stored in the folder, the value of the attribute set by the user is not set in the folder. At this time, since the storage attribute setting means sets at least the attribute value of the classification condition of the folder, preferably, the attribute value of the classification condition of the upper folder / drawer of the folder, the user can register the file at the time of registration. There is no need to specify the user attribute of.

According to the fifth invention, a node (for example,
By setting the classification attribute together with the classification constraint as the classification condition of the drawer / node), a file having an attribute value outside the range of the attribute value of the classification constraint is set to, for example, "Other".
Since it can be classified into the folders of, it is possible to perform classification efficiently.

[0028]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, an outline of a file management device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the principle of the file management apparatus of the present invention. The file management apparatus receives a processing request receiving unit 1 capable of receiving a plurality of processing requests such as registration, search, and retrieval from a plurality of file creation apparatuses (that is, client apparatuses) 6a and 6b, and responds to the received processing requests. Filing model control means 2 for performing basic filing operations and file classification, external file management means 3 for linking with different external file systems, and attribute content management means 4 for managing file attributes and contents. I have it.

The file management device is connected to the file creation devices 6a and 6b via the network 5, and these file creation devices 6a and 6b use the software interface for accessing the file management device to make processing requests. Is configured to be normalized.
For this reason, the processing request receiving means 1 uses the file creation device 6
Since the processing requests are normalized in a and 6b, various information media can be received in the same row.

The filing model control means 2 performs basic filing operations, that is, file generation, copying, and moving. In addition, by using a filing model including a classification structure having a hierarchical structure of nodes, files created by the file creation devices 6a and 6b can be stored and classified at one or a plurality of viewpoints at the same time.

The external file management means 3 has a communication means for accessing each of the external file systems 7a and 7b,
Various network file systems 7a and 7b existing in the distributed environment are accessible. In addition, the external file management means 3 is an external file system 7a, 7
It is possible to manage the files managed by the external file systems 7a and 7b as the files of the internal file system by creating a reference for accessing the file existing in b and using this reference file. I have to.

The attribute content management means 4 stores the attributes of files necessary for filing and stores the actual contents as files of a file system depending on the operating system. Further, when there are a plurality of file management devices according to the present invention on the network, the attribute content management means 4 centrally manages on the network the attribute information when exchanging files accumulated between the devices. .

An embodiment of the file management device of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the file management device according to the present invention.

The file management apparatus of this embodiment (hereinafter abbreviated as this apparatus) includes a processing request receiving unit 10 for receiving various processing requests, a filing model control unit 20 for performing basic filing operations, and a distributed environment. An external file system access control unit 30 that enables various existing network file systems to be used, and an attribute content management unit 40 that manages the attributes and contents of files are provided. The external file system access control unit 30 has external file system access units 32a, 32b, which are individually provided to access a plurality of external file systems 31a, 31b, ...
It is configured to be accessible via. The attribute content management unit 40 includes an attribute storage unit 41 for storing attributes necessary for filing, a document content storage unit 42 for storing the content of a file (for example, a document file) as a file of a file system that depends on the operating system, Attribute definition management unit 43 that manages attribute definitions
Connected to.

The apparatus also includes an application management unit 50 for managing a user-created processing program (referred to as an application in this embodiment), a plurality of application processing units 51a for processing these applications,
51b, ..., An additional function processing unit 60 that processes additional functions such as print / mail requested by the print / mail system 61 existing in the distributed environment, and controls and manages each unit in the apparatus. A server control management unit 70 and a resource information management unit 80 that manages resources on the network
And the resource information management unit 80 and the attribute definition management unit 43
And an object information management unit 90 that manages the data handled as an object as an object.

Although not shown, a file creating apparatus and a document input / output apparatus on the network are connected to the apparatus. These devices include image input / output devices (copiers, facsimile machines), workstations,
It corresponds to a personal computer or one equipped with a scanner device for each, such as inputting images of paper documents, issuing processing requests such as file registration / deletion / search, and filing stored files. It is possible to display the classification by using, and issue a processing request to print out the corresponding one to the printing device.

It should be noted that, here, a minimum unit to be managed such as a document is called a file, a storage location of the file is called a cabinet, and the file is assumed to belong to any one cabinet. In addition, the drawer has a function of classifying files in a specified cabinet using folders belonging to the drawer.

The processing request accepting unit 10 is basically an access point accessed by the various file creating devices 6a and 6b, and is capable of handling a plurality of processing requests. Devices that access a file system or optical filing system that exist on a conventional network are mainly devices that create electronic documents, such as workstations and personal computers. These devices include
A software interface for accessing this device is installed to normalize processing requests, thereby accepting paper documents and paper documents from remote locations (that is, documents by a facsimile machine) and various information media. Is possible.

The filing model control unit 20 is a central part of the file management provided by this device, and is a part that realizes the conceptual model of the filing function. As the constituent elements (objects) of the filing model managed by the filing model control unit 20, files,
There are folders, drawers, and cabinets. The file is
Each has its own content and attributes associated with it,
It is a unit of storage and retrieval. The files are stored in a cabinet in this embodiment, and can be classified in a plurality of views at the same time by using drawers and folders in the cabinet. Further, the filing model control unit 20 has a function such as a basic operation of filing and an automatic classification or an arbitrary classification or an attribute search associated therewith. Further, the filing model control unit 20 has a communication means (C in FIG. 18) and an access method (that is, a communication function) with the attribute content management unit 40, and this device
When there are multiple files in the distributed environment, the basic filing operations can be performed without the user being aware of each other. This point will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

External file system access controller 30
Are external file system access units 32a, 32b,
... to enable various network file systems existing in a distributed environment to be individually accessed, and to store information of files existing in the various network file systems as reference information (also referred to as reference) in this device. It has an information mapping function to create the necessary information for searching, and when the user tries to open the registered reference information, it has a function to search the file from the corresponding network file system and provide it to the user. are doing. The user authentication for accessing the corresponding network file system from the external file system access control unit 30 is registered and managed in the resource information management unit 80 as user information necessary for accessing the external system. There is. In this way, the external file system access control unit 30 takes in the files that were scattered in the distributed environment and replaces the attributes with the attributes of the internal file format, or manages information for replacing the attributes, and Files are associated with internal files. As a result, the filing model control unit 20 uniformly classifies and manages external files that exist in a scattered manner and internal files that are directly managed by this device in one system, that is, in this device. It becomes possible to do.

The attribute content management unit 40 stores the attribute of the file required for filing defined by this apparatus in the attribute storage unit 41, and the actual content of the file is stored in the document content storage unit 42 depending on the operating system. Store as a system file. In addition, the attribute storage unit 41
Has a mechanism for supporting various storage systems, and various databases and file systems 41a
Is available.

The attribute definition management unit 43 obtains attribute definitions used when a plurality of the present devices exist on the network and classifies using the filing model in each device, and centrally manages them on the network. It provides the function to do. Therefore, even if there are a plurality of the present devices, the attributes used in them are the same in content. Therefore, when the user exchanges the accumulated files between the apparatuses, the apparatus guarantees the definition of the attribute added to each file.

The application management unit 50 activates this application by the function of associating the application with the conceptual model of the filing function of the filing model control unit 20 and various defined triggers, and manages the processing result under the control of this device. It provides functions that can be stored. Therefore, it is possible to perform batch processing by incorporating various applications that the user conventionally holds in the apparatus.

The additional function processing unit 60 requests the network printer to print the files stored in various network file systems existing in the distributed environment, or sends the files to remote users by using e-mail or the like. It has a function. In that case, conventionally, a file is once copied or moved onto a user's workstation or a personal computer and a print request or the like is made. However, in this device, a print request or an electronic mail transmission request (required for each) is sent to this device. Information has to be added,
For example, by issuing a paper size and number of copies for a print request, a destination and a copy in the case of e-mail, each communication means, etc., and executing those requests based on the information managed in this device. You can

The server control management unit 70 controls the operating state / stop state of the apparatus, controls the respective management sections in the apparatus such as a test function, instructs status information in the apparatus, and software of each management section. It manages the replacement of data and the backup / restore instruction function for accumulated data. The resource information management unit 80 is provided with a grouping function for each user who accesses this device and each work group to be used.
It also has a function to register / delete / acquire information. It also has a function of associating an application program under the control of the application management unit 50 with a cabinet or drawer of the filing conceptual model defined by the present apparatus, or canceling the association.

The resource information management unit 80 manages names in the conventional network system (user / host name,
In addition to the function of network address, authentication, etc., the system manages the entire system in which the device exists. In addition to the name management function (user / group management, user authentication, server related information, etc.) in the conventional network system, what is managed is the location of the cabinet on the network, which is one of the conceptual models of the filing function. and so on. If the user has permission to use the distributed environment where this device exists, the user differs from the conventional network file system or optical file system (that is, the user must specify the host name to which they are connected). By registering and managing the information about the cabinet of the filing conceptual model, it is possible to access individual accumulated files. In other words, the user can access only the conceptual model of the filing function defined by this device.

The object information management unit 90 is a base of the resource information management unit 80 and the attribute definition management unit 43, and manages the data handled by each as an object. An identifier is assigned to the object at the time of registration, and the operation is performed by the identifier.

This apparatus preferably has a distributed environment supporting function as basic electronic document file management, a communication function with a remote facsimile machine, and an image processing function (registration / output) when an image is input. have. Furthermore, in order to allow the registered files to be accessed from various processing instruction devices or input devices in this device,
A search unit that has an image processing unit that generates a unified reduced display image at the time of registration, an application program for image generation, and a required file from the accumulated files (search from attributes or full text It also has functions such as search.

In the conventional document management system or file system in a distributed environment, most of the parts depend on the file system of the operating system in which it is installed, and it is complicated and wasteful man-hours to realize user-oriented management. This is necessary, and when the operating system or storage was changed, it was necessary to input the accumulated data (file), but the file management device according to the present invention realizes user-friendly and user-oriented management. It becomes possible.

Further, the resource information management unit 80 including the object information management unit 90 and the attribute definition management unit 43 can be installed in a device different from this device, so that concentration of access traffic to this device can be avoided. Can be split as needed. Basically, a management unit (resource information on the network such as this device (server) information or user / group) registered in the resource information management unit 80 is treated as one system. That is, if there are a plurality of separated resource information management units on the same network, a plurality of such systems can be constructed.

Furthermore, a system similar to a file management system or a file server in a conventional distributed environment can be constructed. In other words, there is no need to reconstruct the environment even if this device is installed in an existing distributed environment. Moreover, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, etc. can be handled as an input device in the same manner as a conventional handling, and a gateway device corresponding to each input device unlike the conventional case is not required.

Here, an electronic document file (hereinafter referred to as a document) input from a client device such as a file creating device on the network or a document input device for inputting a paper document as an image is registered, retrieved, searched, and externally. Regarding the registration of the reference, the processing contents of this device as a server will be sequentially described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing contents on the client device side when a document is registered.

When there is a document registration request from the client device to the server (file management device), the client device first confirms that the user interface for accessing the server is activated (step S1), The user name and password are entered on the screen of the activated user interface to log in to the server system (step S2). Next, the filing model (cabinet including the external file cabinet) information is acquired from the resource information management unit 80 (step S3). Here, the external file system 31a,
When registering in 31b, ..., Information of the cabinet for outside is selected. Next, a document to be registered is selected, and a registration instruction is given to the corresponding filing model (cabinet, drawer / folder) (step S4). In the case of registration in the external file systems 31a, 31b, ..., The drawer of the corresponding external file system is opened and the registration instruction is given. Then, it is determined whether the registration may be started by the instruction (step S5). If the instruction is incorrect, start again from document selection, and if the instruction is correct, add necessary attributes to the document to be registered (step S6), and register the document including the instructed attribute for transfer. The request process, that is, the normalization process of the document to be transmitted is performed (step S7), the request for the registration process is issued to the server, and the server side performs the document registration process (step S8). After that, if another document is to be continuously registered, the process returns to step S4, and if there is no document to be registered, the process ends (step S9).

Next, in the registration processing in the server in step S8, detailed processing contents on the server side from the reception of the registration processing request from the client to the completion of registration will be described.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the processing contents on the file management device side when a document is registered. First, the processing request receiving unit 10 receives a registration processing request from the client device (step S11), and the processing request receiving unit 10 accumulates the received registration processing request and transfers the transferred data to the internal data. Convert to a structure (step S12). Next, the document requested to be registered and the additional attribute are registered in the filing model controller 20 (step S13). It is determined whether the document requested to be registered belongs to the internal file system or the external file system (step S14). Here, the documents requested to be registered are external file systems 31a, 31b, ...
If so, the external file system access control unit 30 is requested to perform processing (step S15), and the document is registered in the external file systems 31a, 31b, ... (Step S16). If the document requested to be registered belongs to the internal file system, the filing model control unit 20 determines whether the service application is registered in the corresponding filing model (step S17), and if registered, the service is registered. The application determines whether or not to be activated at the time of registration (step S18). When the service application is activated at the time of registration, the application management unit 50 is requested to perform processing (step S19), and the application management unit 50 activates the corresponding application (step S2).
0), and returns the processing result to the filing model control unit 20 (step S21). Although the determination in step S14 is at the position shown in this example, it may be at the position after step S21.

In step S17, if the service application is not registered in the relevant filing model, in step S18, the service application does not start at the time of registration, and in step S21, the filing model control unit 20. When the processing result is returned to, next, various attributes of the document for which the registration request is made are checked (step S22).
Here, it is determined whether or not automatic classification is designated in the relevant filing model (step S23), and if there is, classification processing is performed on the relevant part of the filing model (step S24). If automatic classification is not specified,
Alternatively, when the classification process ends, the attribute content management unit 40
To the registration process (step S25), the attributes and contents of the registered document are stored in the attribute storage unit 41 and the document content storage unit 42, respectively (step S26), and the process ends.

Next, description will be given of the processing contents when the registered document is retrieved and retrieved from the server in the client device. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing the processing contents on the client device side in the case of extracting the registered document of the document.

When the client device requests the server (file management device) to take out the registered document, the client device first confirms that the user interface for accessing the server is activated ( In step S31), the server system is logged in on the activated user interface screen (step S32). Next, the filing model (cabinet) information is acquired from the resource information management unit 80 (step S33), the corresponding cabinet is opened, and the lower filing model information is acquired from the server (step S34). It is determined whether or not to search the corresponding file (step S35), and when searching, a search processing request is issued to the server (step S36).
Here, it is determined whether or not the information of the corresponding file can be acquired from the server (step S37), and if it cannot be acquired, it is determined whether or not to perform the search process again (step S38). When performing the search again, the process returns to step S36. In step S37, when the information of the corresponding file can be acquired from the server, the filing model is sequentially opened to search for the corresponding file (step S39). Here, it is judged whether or not the corresponding file is found (step S40), and if not found, the process returns to step S33.

If it is determined in step S40 that the corresponding file is found, if it is determined in step S35 that the corresponding file is not searched, and if it is determined in step S38 that the search is not performed again, the server is notified. On the other hand, it is determined whether to request acquisition of file contents (step S41). When requesting acquisition of the file content, a content acquisition processing request is issued to the server to acquire the file content from the server (step S42). Then, it is judged whether or not the server is requested to change the attribute (step S4).
3). When the attribute change is requested, the attribute change processing request is issued to the server to change the attribute (step S44). Finally, it is determined whether or not the registration document take-out process is to be ended (step S45), and if the process is to be continued, the process returns to step S34.

Next, the contents of the search process in the server in step S36 will be described. 8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of searching for a registered document.

When performing a search for a registered document, first, the process request accepting unit 10 accepts a search process request from a client device (step S51), and the process request accepting unit 10 accumulates the accepted search process requests. Then, the search processing request is converted into internal information (step S52). Next, the search request process is registered in the filing model control unit 20 (step S53). Here, it is determined whether the search processing request is an attribute search or a full text search (step S54). In the case of full text, a request to activate the full text search application is issued to the application management unit 50 (step S55), and the application management unit 50 activates the full text search application to execute full text search processing (step S56). In the case of the attribute search, a search condition is added to the attribute content management unit 40 to request the search processing (step S57), and the attribute content management unit 40 accepts the search processing request (step S58) and the search processing is performed. Perform (step S59). After that, the application management unit 50 or the attribute content management unit 40 creates a search result file (step S60) and transfers it to the filing model control unit 20 (step S61). Then, from the filing model control unit 20, the processing request receiving unit 10 uses the search result file as the processing result for the search processing request.
The process request accepting unit 10 creates response data for the search process request and returns it to the client (step S63).

Next, the processing flow in the server for the content acquisition processing issued in step S42 of FIG. 7 will be described. 10, 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of the contents acquisition processing.

When there is a request for content acquisition processing from the client device, first, the processing request acceptance unit 10 accepts a content acquisition processing request from the client device (step S
71), the processing request receiving unit 10 stores the received content acquisition processing request and converts the content acquisition processing request into internal information (step S72). Next, the content acquisition request process is registered in the filing model control unit 20 (step S73). Then, it is determined whether the corresponding filing is a reference or an actual electronic file (step S7).
4) If it is a reference, it is determined whether the reference is an internal reference or an external reference (step S75). Here, if the corresponding file is an actual electronic file and is an internal reference, the content acquisition request process is registered in the attribute content management unit 40 (step S76). Next, the attribute content management unit 40 receives the content acquisition request (step S77), and based on the corresponding file information, the filing model control unit 20 creates a file.
(Step S78). The filing model control unit 20 returns the file to the processing request receiving unit 10 as a processing result for the content acquisition request processing (step S7).
9), the processing request receiving unit 10 creates response data for the content acquisition request and returns it to the client device (step S80).

On the other hand, if it is determined in steps S74 and S75 that the corresponding file is a reference and is an external reference, the information acquisition request process for the corresponding reference is registered in the attribute content management unit 40 (step S81). . Next, the result of the information acquisition request is passed to the filing model controller 20 (step S82). Information acquisition request processing is registered in the external file system access control unit 30 (step S8).
3). Applicable external file systems 31a, 31b,
.. is started (step S8)
4) The external file system access control unit 30 obtains the information necessary for user authentication when logging on to the corresponding external file system from the resource information management unit 80 through the server control management unit 70 (step S8).
5). External file system 31 applicable to this information
, a, 31b, ... Are accessed, the corresponding file is retrieved (step S86), and the result of the information acquisition request is passed to the filing model controller 20 (step S87). The filing model control unit 20 transfers the result of the processing to the processing request receiving unit 10 (step S8).
8) After that, it progresses to step S80.

Next, the processing contents when the client device registers an external reference to the server will be described. 13 and 14 are flowcharts of processing on the client device side at the time of external reference registration.

First, the client device confirms that the user interface for accessing the server is activated (step S91), and logs in to the server system by the screen of the activated user interface (step S92). Next, the resource information management unit 8
The information of the filing model (cabinet) is acquired from 0 (step S93), and the external file system 31
It is determined whether or not there is a cabinet for accessing a, 31b, ... (Step S94), and if not, the process returns to Step S93. External file system 31a,
If there is a cabinet for accessing 31b, ..., The corresponding system is found from the cabinet for accessing the external file system, and the file for which the reference is to be made is searched for (step S95). Here, for example, the system is a drawer unit. When searching for a file, the server obtains user information (authentication information; user name, password) for accessing the external file systems 31a, 31b, ... From the resource information management unit 80. For example, it is obtained from the correspondence table of the authentication information for this device and the authentication information of the external file system corresponding to the user. The external file systems 31a, 31b, ... Are accessed based on this user information. Then, a reference registration request processing request is issued to the server, and the processing result is obtained (step S96). Finally, it is determined whether the processing is completed (step S9).
7) If further registration processing is required, step S93
Return to

Next, the server side processing of the reference registration request processing will be described. 15, 16 and 17
6 is a flowchart showing the processing on the file management apparatus side of the reference registration request processing.

As described above, when the reference registration request processing request issuance processing is performed on the client device side, the processing request accepting unit 10 accepts the reference registration request issued from the client device side (step S101). The processing request receiving unit 10 stores the processing request and converts the processing request into internal information (step S102). After the internal processing is performed in the processing request receiving unit 10, the request content is registered in the filing model control unit 20 (step S103). Next, it is determined whether the file of the reference registration request is in the internal document storage unit or in the external file system (step S10).
4). Here, if the file of the reference registration request exists in the internal document content storage unit 42, the filing model control unit 20 registers the processing request in the attribute content management unit 40 (step S105). Then, the attribute content management unit 40 receives the reference registration request (step S10).
6) The attribute content management unit 40 creates a file reference in the document content storage unit 42 and registers it in the attribute storage unit 41 (step S107). Then, the processing result of the registration processing is passed to the filing model control unit 20 (step S108). Next, the processing result for the reference registration request is returned from the filing model control unit 20 to the processing request receiving unit 10 (step S109), and the processing request receiving unit 1
Response data for the reference registration request is created from 0 and returned to the client that issued the reference creation request (step S110).

On the other hand, it is determined in step S104 that the file for creating the reference is the external file system 3
1a, 31b, ..., The filing model control unit 20 registers the reference creation request process with the external file system access control unit 30 (step S111). Next, the external file system access control unit 30 uses the external file system access unit 32.
The external file system is accessed via a, 32b, ... And the information (server name, volume name, path name, etc.) necessary for accessing the corresponding file is obtained (step S112), and the external file is acquired. The system access units 32a, 32b, ... Obtain the external attribute information of the file and convert it into internal attribute information, and the external file system access control unit 30 creates the internal attribute information necessary for registration as a reference. It is passed to the filing model control unit 20 (step S113). Then, the filing model control unit 20 registers the reference registration request in the attribute content management unit 40 (step S114), and proceeds to step S106.

Next, an example of a mutual access method between the present devices when a plurality of the present devices exist on one network in a distributed environment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 18, two file management devices 100 and 200 according to the present invention are connected via a network 300. Each of the file management devices 100 and 200 has the same configuration, and the processing request reception units 110 and 210, the filing model control units 120 and 220, the attribute content management units 130 and 230, the attribute storage units 140 and 240, respectively.
Operating system dependent file system 15
0,250.

Filing model controller 120, 220
Has a communication means and an access method with the attribute content management units 130 and 230, and enables mutual basic filing operations without the user's awareness. For example, the filing model control unit 120 of the file management apparatus 100 can specify a file of information that refers to a file managed by the file management apparatus 200 as a file stored and managed in the cabinet. When a user other than the user who has registered this sees the cabinet of the file management apparatus 100, the file of the file management apparatus 200 is to be accessed using the communication means C indicated by the broken line. Therefore, the user can use the file management device 200
I'm not aware that I am accessing the file.

Filing model controller 120, 220
The file is managed by the identifier information, and the identifier information includes reference information (having the identifier of the file) when the file is in another file management device (server). Therefore, for example, when the processing request receiving unit 110 of the file management apparatus 100 receives a processing request to open a specified file based on the information of the search result of the file, the filing model control unit 120 determines the identifier information of the specified file. Then, it is determined whether the requested target file is a file managed by the file management apparatus 100 or a file managed by the file management apparatus 200. If the target file is a file managed by the file management apparatus 100, the filing model control unit 120 performs an open process of the file specified through the attribute content management unit 130, and the target file is a file managed by the file management apparatus 200. , The communication path and the attribute content management unit 1 indicated by broken lines
The file specified through 30 is accessed by the file identifier of the reference information to open the file.

As described above, in a distributed environment, when a plurality of the present devices exist on the same network, the mutual access between the present devices enables the user to determine in which device a necessary electronic document or file exists. It is not necessary to be aware of, and it is sufficient to be aware of the filing model and classification defined by this device.

Further, the reference information about the external file includes a portion having all the attributes of the external file corresponding to the internal attributes of the file managed by the file management device, and a portion having only different attributes. There is. The latter part is managed in the form of a difference information file. Here, how to manage the reference information of the external file, particularly the difference information file, will be described.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the file management device. In the figure, the same blocks as those shown in FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the parts not involved in the management of the difference information file are omitted. According to this figure, an operating system dependent file system 33 is connected to the external file system access control unit 30.

Depending on the management of the difference information file, at least the following two cases can be considered as the storage location of the difference information file. In either case, the reference information itself of the external file is the file 1 of this device.
It is stored in the attribute content management unit 40 as a “reference” that is a seed.

A first example is the case where the difference information file is stored in the operating system dependent file system 33. In this case, the external file system access control unit 30 manages the difference information file stored in the operating system dependent file system 33.

Further, in order to manage / reference the authentication information for accessing the external system, information exchange occurs between the external file system access control unit 30 and the resource information management unit 80.

As a second example, the difference information file is stored in the attribute content management unit 40. The external file system access control unit 30 directly controls the attribute content management unit 40 for managing the difference information file.

However, information is exchanged between the external file system access control unit 30 and the resource information management unit 80 in order to manage / reference the authentication information for accessing the external file system.

Reference information of an external electronic document or file is taken into the attribute content management unit 40 as a "reference", and the content of the processing will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the detailed flow of processing after the filing model control unit for fetching external information (reference registration) receives a processing request.

First, when the filing model control unit 20 receives a reference creation processing request through the processing request receiving unit 10 (step S121), the filing model control unit 20 creates a reference creation file (source file) as an internal file (source file). It is determined whether the file is a local file or an external file (step S122). If it is determined that the file is an external file, it is determined whether or not the system is the same as the main system (of course, a single system is the system) when the number of the system is plural (step S12).
3) If the systems are the same, the same processing as the internal file is performed. If it is determined in step S123 that the system is not the same as the main file management device,
The filing model control unit 20 requests the external file system access control unit 30 for processing, and the requested external file system access control unit 30 accesses the external file management system 31a or 31b through the external file system access unit 32a or 32b, Attribute information is acquired (step S124). Next, an attribute value that can be mapped to an internal attribute is converted (step S125), a portion having no corresponding attribute is written to a file as difference information (step S126), and the file in which the difference information is written (hereinafter referred to as a difference information file). )
Operating system dependent file system 3
3 or attribute content management unit 40 (step S1)
27). Then, the filing model control unit 20 creates a reference in the attribute content management unit 40 based on the attribute information created by the external file system access control unit 30 (step S128).

In order to create a reference, it is necessary to give information for identifying the reference file. Normally,
This is a file identifier, but if it is external, the system name and file name of the external file (or information such as the path name to access the file of the external file system)
Is given. These pieces of information are used to access the outside and are set as reference attributes.

The attribute information to be set in the reference, including the difference information file name and the reference destination update date and time when the reference is created, is created by the external file system access control unit 30.

When accessing the file of the external file system, the file is accessed through the reference information. Details of the processing operation after the filing model control unit at this time receives the processing request will be described separately for the case of extracting the contents of the file and the case of extracting the attributes.

First, the process for extracting the contents of a file will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The filing model controller 20 through the processing request receiver 10
When receives the reference content acquisition processing request (step S131), the filing model control unit 20 acquires the value of the "system name" attribute of the reference from the attribute content management unit 40 (step S132). Here, the filing model control unit 20 determines whether the file (source file) whose contents are to be acquired from the acquired attribute value is an internal file or an external file (step S1).
33). Here, if it is determined that the file is an external file, it is determined whether the system is the same as the main device (server) (step S134). Step S133
If it is determined that the file is an internal file in step S134, or if the system is the same system in step S134, the attribute content management unit 40 of the corresponding server is accessed to acquire the content (step S135). On the other hand, if it is determined that the file is an external file and is not the same system as the main server, the filing model control unit 20 receives authentication information for accessing the external file system from the resource information management unit 80 (step S13).
6) The external system is accessed to acquire the contents of the file (step S137).

Next, the process for acquiring the attribute value of a file will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, when the filing model control unit 20 receives a reference attribute acquisition processing request through the processing request reception unit 10 (step S141), the filing model control unit 2
0 acquires the value of the reference "system name" attribute from the attribute content management unit 40 (step S142). Here, the filing model control unit 20 determines from the acquired attribute value whether the file (source file) whose attribute is to be acquired is an internal file or an external file (step S143). If it is determined that the file is an external file, it is determined whether the system is the same as that of the main file management device (server) (step S14).
4). If it is determined in step S143 that the file is an internal file, or if it is determined in step S144 that the file is the same system, the attribute content management unit 40 of the corresponding server is accessed to acquire the attribute (step S145). On the other hand, when it is determined that the file is an external file and is not the same system as the main server, the filing model control unit 20 receives authentication information for accessing the external system from the resource information management unit 80 (step S146), The external file system is accessed to acquire the "update date and time" attribute (step S14)
7). Here, it is determined whether the internal information is old by comparing with the "update date and time" attribute held internally (step S148). Here, if the internal information is old, the external file system is accessed to acquire the attribute (step S149), and if the same, the attribute is acquired from the information in the difference information file and the information mapped to the reference ( Step S150). In this way, when acquiring the attribute value of the file of the external system through the reference information, instead of simply acquiring the external attribute information, the reference destination update date and time when the reference information was created and the external file The date and time when the change is made is compared, and only when the information taken in is old, the attribute information is rewritten by accessing the outside. Next, the function of hierarchically classifying electronic documents and files according to their attribute values will be described centering on the filing model control unit. Before that, the objects to be classified, that is, files, drawers /
Specific data formats of folders and cabinets will be described.

First, a file is composed of contents and attributes. There are three types of attributes: basic attributes, extended attributes, and internal attributes. The basic attributes are attributes that are uniquely defined in advance in the system. Specifically, as the attribute value, the "identifier", "title", "creation date and time", "creator", "content size", and file are There is "affiliation cabinet" which represents the stored cabinet. Extended attributes are attributes that are added and defined according to the purpose of the user. The types of attributes are "character string", "integer", "date and time", "logical value (true / false)", and "byte string".
There is. These basic attributes and extended attributes are directly provided to the user and can be managed by the user. Internal attributes are attributes used in the system and are not disclosed to users. A specific example of this internal attribute is "folder list", which is a list of identifiers of drawers or folders into which files are classified.

The drawer / folder has no contents, and all necessary information is held as attributes. However, unlike files, the types of attributes are only basic attributes and internal attributes, and extended attributes cannot be defined. Specific basic attributes of the drawer / folder include "identifier", "title", "creation date / time", "creator", and "classification condition". The internal attributes are "file list", which is a list of file identifiers classified by drawer / folder, "folder list" which is a list of folder identifiers that the drawer / folder includes immediately below, and drawer /
There are a "parent folder" in which the folder is a folder immediately above and a "cabinet list" in which the identifier of the cabinet to be classified is indicated. In the case of a drawer, the value of the “parent folder” is unset because the drawer itself has the highest structure.

Also in the cabinet, the types of attributes are only basic attributes and internal attributes. Basic attributes are specifically "identifier", "title", "creation date", and "creator", and internal attributes are "drawer list" which is a list of identifiers of drawers whose cabinets are to be classified, and cabinets. There is a "file list" which is a list of identifiers of files belonging to.

Next, one example of the function of hierarchically classifying files according to their attribute values will be described in detail, centering on the filing model controller 20. FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the document classification device in the file management device.

The document classification device includes a document storage unit 410, a classification structure storage unit 420, a classification condition setting unit 430, a classification structure creation unit 440, an automatic classification unit 450, and a control unit 46.
0 and a display unit 470. Here, the document storage unit 410 and the classification structure storage unit 420 correspond to the attribute content management unit 40 shown in FIG. 2, and the classification structure creation unit 440, the automatic classification unit 450, and the control unit correspond to the filing model control unit 20. The display unit 470 is a file creation device 6a, 6b or a file management device (server).
Corresponding to. That is, regarding the display unit 470, based on the output of the file management device, the file creation device 6a,
6b, or when the file management device operates independently, it is displayed on its own display.

The document storage unit 410 stores document files (hereinafter,
It is a part that stores the contents and attributes of a document.
The document storage unit 410 also stores link information to drawers / folders into which documents are classified.

The classification structure storage unit 420 is a part for storing a classification structure composed of drawers / folders, and also stores the classification conditions specified in the drawer / folder and the link information to the documents classified immediately below. In this embodiment, the uppermost object of the classification structure is particularly called "drawer".
Documents stored in the document storage unit are classified directly under the drawer for which no classification condition is specified. The part for creating the drawer is omitted here.

The classification condition setting unit 430 sets the classification condition for the drawer / folder or changes the already set classification condition by designating the classification condition. The minimum information required as a classification condition is an "attribute used for classification", and this attribute is called a classification attribute.

In the case of automatic classification, the classification structure creating section 440 creates a new folder according to the classification. That is, a folder is created when there is no folder having the value of the classification attribute of the file to be classified. When the classification condition is changed, the corresponding existing folder structure is deleted.

The automatic classification unit 450 displays the document attributes and drawer /
The drawer / folder for classifying the document is determined from the classification condition of the folder, and a link is established between the document and the drawer / folder to perform the classification. .

The control section 460 is a section for performing overall control of these components, and the display section 470 is a section for displaying the classification result. Here, an example of the classification structure when the classification conditions are actually specified is shown. In the following example of the classification structure, the hierarchical structure of drawers and folders is shown by solid lines, and the link relationship between drawers / folders and documents is shown by dotted lines.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when no classification condition is designated. In this figure, five documents 511 to 515 are classified just below the drawer 500,
These documents 511 to 515 are stored in the document storage unit 410. In this way, the classification condition is not set and the drawer 5
The state in which all the documents 511 to 515 to be classified into 00 are classified as the initial state. Of course, you can create a drawer by specifying the classification conditions.

Here, it is assumed that the attributes and the values of the documents 511 to 515 are as follows, for example. For the first document 511, the “document type” attribute is set to “specification”,
The “project” attribute is “filing”, the “document type” attribute is “specification”, the “project” attribute is “printer”, and the second document 512 is the third document 512.
For the document 513, the “document type” attribute is “specification”, the “project” attribute is “printer”, and the fourth
For the document 514, the “document type” attribute is “minutes” and the “monthly” attribute is “April”, and for the fifth document 515, the “document type” attribute is “minutes” and “monthly”.
The attribute is “May”.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the classification structure when the classification condition is designated by one step. When the classification condition setting unit 430 specifies and sets the “document type” as a classification attribute for the drawer 500, the classification structure creation unit 440 sets the attribute values of the documents 511 to 515 that have been classified directly under the drawer 500. , The folders 521 and 522 are created according to the “specification” and the “minutes”, and the automatic classification unit 450 classifies the documents 511 to 515 into folders 521 and 522 corresponding to their attribute values.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the classification structure when the classification conditions are designated in two steps. "Specifications" folder 5
21 and the "minutes" folder 522 specify classification conditions, a two-level classification structure is created. According to the illustrated example, the “filing” folder 523 and the “printer” folder 524 are created by classifying the “specifications” folder 521 under the “project” attribute, and the “minutes” folder 522 By classifying by “monthly”, a “April” folder 525 and a “May” folder 526 are created.

The files hierarchically classified as described above are displayed on display unit 470 as follows, for example. FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the display unit displaying the classification result in the icon format.

According to the illustrated example, the file window 471 displayed on the display unit has an area 472 for visually displaying the hierarchical structure and a specific hierarchy in the hierarchical structure displayed in this area 472. An area 473 for displaying existing folders and files as icons.
The illustrated hierarchical structure is a display example of the classification result shown in FIG. That is, there is a drawer at the top, and a "specifications" folder and a "minutes" folder are created below it. A "filing" folder and a "printer" folder are created under the "specifications" folder, and a "April" folder and a "May" folder are created under the "minutes" folder. Here, the “printer” folder is selected, and thus, the files classified into the “printer” folder are displayed as icons in the display area 473 on the right side thereof.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing another screen display example of the display unit displaying the classification results in the list format. In the illustrated example, the area 472 displaying the hierarchical structure is the same, but in the area 473 displaying the classified files, the files classified in the “printer” folder are displayed in a list. In this example, each file is displayed with the attributes of "title", "creator", and "date and time of creation".

Here, the automatic classification unit 450 and the control unit 4
The document group classification processing in 60 will be described. FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing the flow of document group classification processing.

When the document group is classified, first, all the attribute values of the document directly under the drawer / folder, that is, the documents to be classified are checked (step S161). In this case, the attribute value is the value of the attribute specified by the classification condition. Next, it is determined whether or not a folder corresponding to the attribute value exists immediately below the operation target (step S162).
Here, if the corresponding folder does not exist, a folder corresponding to the attribute value is created immediately below the operation target, thereby creating folders corresponding to all the values (step S163). It should be noted that an attribute can have a plurality of values, which is called a multi-valued attribute. When this multi-valued attribute is designated as the classification attribute, a folder is created for each value. Then, the drawer / folder to be classified is determined based on the attribute value (of the classification attribute) of the document. Next, a link is established between the document and the drawer / folder, that is, the document is placed under the determined drawer / folder (step S164). In the case of multi-valued attributes, documents having the values of the plurality of attributes are classified into a plurality of drawers / folders corresponding to the values of the respective attributes. Note that in automatic classification, documents are classified directly under the drawer only in the initial state. However, in the case of “mixed with arbitrary classification” described later, there is a case where they are classified directly below the drawer. And
The classified documents are deleted from the classification target (step S16).
5) It is determined whether there are any documents remaining in the classification target (step S166). If no document remains in the classification target, the process ends, and if it remains, the process returns to step S161 to check the attribute value corresponding to the classification condition for the remaining document.

The classification condition can be changed by the classification condition setting unit 430. The processing contents in that case will be described. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the flow of the classification condition changing process.

In the case of changing the classification condition, first, the documents classified in the substructure of the drawer / folder whose classification condition has been changed are added to the classification target, and these documents and the drawer / folder to be changed are classified. All links are cut (step S171). Next, it is determined whether or not there is a folder under the hierarchy to be changed (step S172). If there is a folder, the document linked to the folder group under the change target hierarchy is added to the classification target and the link between them is cut (step S173), and the folder group under the change target hierarchy is deleted. (Step S174). This destroys all the folder structure in the drawer / folder. Next, a new classification condition is set for the drawer / folder to be operated (step S175). Then, for the drawer / folder to be changed and the document to be classified, FIG.
9. "Classification of document group" is performed (step S176).

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a link relationship when the classification attribute is changed. The example of this figure shows a case where the classification attribute of the drawer of FIG. 26 is changed from "state of document" to "project".

In the classification condition changing process, at the stage where step S174 in FIG. 30 is completed, in FIG.
The link relationship shown by the dotted line between the drawer 500 and the documents 511 to 515 is broken, and the drawer 500 becomes disjointed. Here, a classification condition having a classification attribute of “project” is set in the drawer 500, and “document group classification” is performed again on the documents classified before the change. After the classification, as shown in the figure, "Filing" folder 5
23 and the “printer” folder 524 are created, and a document for which the value of the classification attribute “project” is not set, a folder 527 called “others” is created,
I try to classify them in that.

Next, the contents of the document registration processing in the drawer in the control unit 460 will be described. FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for registering a document in the drawer.

When registering a document in the drawer,
First, the document is stored in the attribute content management unit (step S1).
81). Subsequent steps determine which drawer / folder the stored document is to be classified into.
Next, the drawer is set as an operation target (step S182).
Next, it is determined whether or not the operation target has a classification attribute (step S183), and if there is a classification attribute, the attribute value of the document corresponding to the classification attribute set in the drawer is obtained (step S184). Then, it is determined whether the folder corresponding to the attribute value is directly under the operation target drawer (step S185), and if there is, the folder is set as the operation target (step S186). Then, step S
Returning to 183, the above processing is repeated. Here, if the corresponding folder does not include a folder (if it is the lowest folder), the folder is a folder to be classified.

In step S185, if there is no folder in the drawer (drawer in the initial state), the drawer itself becomes a drawer to be classified. If there is no folder corresponding to the attribute value, a new folder corresponding to the document attribute value is created (step S187). In this case, this folder is the folder to be classified.

Then, a link is established between the drawer / folder to be classified and the document (step S188). Next, it is judged whether or not all the attribute values have been checked (step S189). If all the attribute values have been checked, this registration processing is terminated, and if there is an attribute value to be checked, the step is performed. Return to S185.

Note that registering a document directly in a folder is not allowed because the attributes to be classified by the folder may conflict with the attributes set in the document. This solution will be described later in "Stored Attribute".

Next, the reclassification processing by changing the attribute value of the document will be described. For example, if you change the attribute value of a document that was classified in the "April" folder to "May", you must move the document from the "April" folder to the "May" folder. Reclassification is performed by changing the attribute value. In this case, the link with the drawer / folder that has already been classified is cut off, and a link with the new classification place is established. At this time, the consistency is checked to avoid unnecessary cutting. That is, the drawer / folder linked from the document (the location classified by the previous value) is checked for any inconsistency in the new attribute value, and only when it is inconsistent, the reclassification is performed. The consistency check also considers multi-valued attributes.

Reclassification is necessary even when a document is deleted, but the contents of the processing in the control unit 460 in this case will be described. FIG. 35 is a flow chart showing the flow of reclassification processing by deleting a document.

When deleting a document, first, the link between the document to be deleted and all drawers / folders related to this is cut off and the document is deleted (step S211). One of the drawers / folders in which the documents are classified (in-law parent, that is, the drawer / folder at the end of the disconnected link) is set as the operation target (step S212). It is determined whether the operation target is a folder (step S21).
3) If it is a folder, it is determined whether or not any document remains in the folder (step S214). If the folder is empty, delete it (step S
215), the parent of the folder is set as the operation target (step S216), and the process returns to step S213.

If the operation target is not a folder in the determination in step S213 and the folder is not empty in the determination in step S214, it is determined whether all the drawers / folders to which the document is linked have been checked (step S217). , Unchecked drawer /
If there is a folder, the process returns to step S213, and if all drawers / folders have been checked, the process ends.

In this way, when deleting a document, the link with the drawer / folder in which the document is classified is cut, and when the classified folder becomes empty, the folder is deleted. .

According to the above document classification device, the classification structure by the drawer / folder is automatically created and the documents are automatically classified, so that the load for file management is reduced. Also, by changing the classification method under each layer, it is possible to perform detailed classification according to the purpose. Furthermore, since only a part of the classification can be changed, such as changing the classification for each “project” into group units, maintenance becomes easy when the classification structure needs to be changed. That is,
If it is a paper document, when changing the classification, it is necessary to reload the document, but such an operation is not necessary.
Further, since the document operation (attribute change, deletion) can be reflected in the classification, it becomes easy to maintain and manage whether or not the classification is performed correctly.

In the above-described document classification apparatus, the classification condition setting unit 430 has been described as an example in which one classification condition is set to perform one-step classification. It is also possible to carry out classification at once. For example, the classification condition of the drawer or the folder is set such that the first-level classification attribute is “document type” and the second-level classification attribute is “project”. According to this batch multi-level classification, the classification structure creation unit 440 creates a multi-level classification in a batch according to the setting in the classification condition setting unit 430. Specifically, when a plurality of classification conditions are designated, basically, the classification condition change may be repeatedly applied a plurality of times. As a result, the trouble of designating the classification conditions step by step is reduced.

In the classification condition setting unit 430, it is possible to explicitly specify the attribute value used for classification and to specify the range of the attribute value. Such a condition is called a "classification constraint"
Call. For example, if the classification attribute of a drawer or folder is "Document type" and the classification constraints are "Specifications" and "Minutes", only documents that have the attributes "Specifications" and "Minutes" are classified. , Documents with other values are put in the "Others" folder all at once, and similarly, the classification attribute is "year" and the classification constraint is "1994 or later".
By setting the setting that means "after 1994"
It is possible to classify only the documents created in (1) and put all other documents in the "Other" folder.

The same classification attribute can be specified for the upper and lower folders. Of course, even if there is no classification constraint, the same classification attribute can be specified in the upper and lower folders, but it is meaningless as a classification. By combining with the classification constraint, it is possible to roughly classify in the upper folder and to classify in detail in the lower folder. For example, the same "creation date and time"
For the upper and lower folders with the classification attribute of
By setting the classification constraint of the upper folder to "yearly", the upper folders are classified by year, and by setting the classification constraint of the lower folder to "monthly", the lower folders are classified by month. Can be classified into.

However, the same classification attribute /
When specifying classification constraints, the classification constraint conditions must overlap. If there is no overlap, then there are no documents to be classified. For example, "before 1994" and "19
Since the condition "after 1995" is inconsistent, there is no document that meets such conditions.

As described above, by designating the classification constraint or by using it in combination with the classification attribute, the classification control can be realized and unnecessary classification can be omitted. Here, the storage attribute will be described. By registering a document in a folder, the attribute values necessary for being classified in the folder are automatically set in the classification structure storage unit 420. This is the control classification 46
This is performed by the storage attribute setting means at 0. For example, when a document is registered in a folder that has classified documents having a value of “specification”, the value of the “document type” attribute of the document is automatically set to “specification”. This attribute value is called the "storage attribute" of the folder. The storage attribute is automatically set in the automatically generated folder and stored in the classification structure storage unit 420.

In the registered document, not only the storage attributes of the designated folder but also the storage attributes of all upper folders are set. When specifying a classification constraint, the storage attribute must be specified by the user. This storage attribute must be consistent with the classification constraint. When the same classification attribute / classification constraint is specified for the upper and lower folders, the storage attribute specified by the user must be consistent with all classification constraints for the same classification attribute.

When the same classification attribute is designated in the upper and lower folders, the storage attributes set in the registered document (corresponding to the same classification attribute) are as follows. (A) When the classification attribute is a single-valued attribute Set the storage attribute value of the folder closest to the folder in which the document is registered. (B) When the classification attribute is a multi-valued attribute Set the storage attributes of all folders above the folder in which the document is registered.

The storage attribute is applied not only when the document is registered but also when the document is moved / transferred. Therefore, since the attribute is set by designating the folder, the trouble of setting the attribute at the time of registration is reduced. In addition, when a file that has already been classified is changed to another classification, the classification attributes are automatically changed, so no inconsistency occurs.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing the flow of the document registration processing to the folder. When registering a document in a folder, first, all storage attributes set in the designated folder and nodes higher than this are acquired (step S191). Next, the document is stored in the attribute content management unit (step S192). The previously acquired storage attribute is set in the document stored in the attribute content management unit (step S19).
3) The node that classifies the document is determined according to the attribute value of the document (including the value set as the storage attribute) (step S194). This process is the same as the process of steps S182 to S189 of document registration in the drawer of FIG.
However, the "target drawer is the operation target" in step S182 is "the specified folder is the operation target". That is, among the nodes in the designated folder, the node into which the document should be classified is determined.

Details of the process of acquiring the storage attribute information in step S191 of FIG. 33 will be described below. FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the flow of the storage attribute information acquisition processing.

When acquiring the storage attribute information, it is first determined whether or not the storage attribute is set in the target node (step S201). Here, if the storage attribute is set, the storage attribute is a single-valued attribute, and it is determined whether or not it is already recorded (step S2).
02), if not recorded, the storage attribute is recorded (step S203). Then, when the storage attribute is not set in the determination of step S201,
When the storage attribute is recorded in the determination of step S202, and when the storage attribute is recorded in step S203, it is determined whether or not the parent of the node exists (step S204). Here, if the parent of the node does not exist, it means that we have reached the drawer,
The node becomes a drawer, and this processing ends. If the parent of the node exists, the parent node is targeted (step S205), and the process returns to step S201. In this way, all storage attributes set in the specified folder and the nodes above the specified folder are acquired.

In the classification condition setting unit 430, it is possible to mix the classification by the user in addition to the classification of the document by the attribute value. That is, if the classification is not specified, the document is classified directly under the drawer / folder, but the user creates a folder in such a folder, creates the user's arbitrary classification structure, and classifies the document. be able to.
The classification by the user is called “arbitrary classification” as opposed to automatic classification by attribute value. Also, classification conditions can be specified for folders created by arbitrary classification. Note that a classification change (file operation) unit is required for arbitrary classification, and this is in the control unit 460.

By mixing this arbitrary classification with the automatic classification based on the attribute value, it becomes possible to mix it with the arbitrary classification of the user. Next, centering on the filing model control unit, a function of hierarchically classifying electronic documents and files according to their attribute values, and particularly a classification function capable of different classifications according to purposes at the same time, will be described.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of the document classification device in the file management device. The document classification device includes a document storage unit 610, a classification structure storage unit 620,
23 includes a classification condition setting unit 630, a classification structure creating unit 640, an automatic classification unit 650, a control unit 660, and a display unit 670, and reference numerals 410 to 470 in FIG.
It corresponds to the component of. 23 is different from the device of FIG. 23 in that the concept of a cabinet for storing and managing documents to be classified is introduced, and a group of documents managed by this cabinet can be automatically classified by a plurality of classification structures.

In this document classification device, the document storage unit 6
Reference numeral 10 is a part for storing the contents and attributes of the document, and stores cabinet information in which the document is stored and link information to a drawer / folder classified.

The classification structure storage unit 620 is a part for storing a classification structure composed of drawers / folders. When the classification structure is stored, the cabinet to which the classification structure is assigned is specified. The classification structure storage unit 620 also stores the classification conditions specified for each drawer / folder and the link information to the documents classified immediately below. Here, in the drawer in which the classification condition is not designated, the documents stored in the document storage unit 610 are classified directly below. The part for creating the drawer is omitted here.

The classification condition setting unit 630 is a part for designating classification conditions for each drawer / folder. It also changes the classification conditions that have already been set. The classification structure creation unit 640 is a part that creates a new folder as needed. It also has a function of deleting an existing unnecessary folder structure when the classification condition is changed.

The automatic classification unit 650 determines and classifies all drawers / folders for classifying documents based on the document attributes, cabinet information, and drawer / folder classification conditions (links between documents and drawers / folders). (Stretch) part.

Then, the control unit 660 controls the document storage unit 610, the classification structure storage unit 620, and the classification condition setting unit 63.
0, the classification structure creating unit 640, and the automatic classifying unit 650.

Here, an example of the classification structure when a plurality of classification structures are actually specified for the same document group will be shown. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a cabinet and a stored document group when a classification condition is not specified for a drawer / folder.

In this figure, a cabinet 700 is shown in which there are five documents 71.
1 to 715 are stored. These documents 711-71
5 is actually stored in the document storage unit 610. As described above, the documents 711 to 715 always belong to one of the cabinets, here, the cabinet 700, and if the classification conditions are not set, the documents 711 to 715 are stored together in the cabinet 700 in the unclassified state. Has been done.

Here, each of the documents 711 to 715 has classification attributes such as "document type" and "project".
And the attribute values are as follows, for example.

For the first document 711, the “document type” attribute is “specification”, the “project” attribute is “filing”, and for the second document 712, the “document type” attribute is “specification”. , The “project” attribute is “printer”, the third document 713 is “document type” attribute is “specification”, the “project” attribute is “printer”, and the fourth document 714 is “document The “type” attribute is “minutes”, the “project” attribute is “filing”, and for the fifth document 715, the “document type” attribute is “minutes” and the “project” attribute is “copy”.

Next, the cabinet 7 in the unclassified state
An example of the classification structure when the documents 711 to 715 stored in "00" are classified by the classification attribute "document type" is shown below.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when a document group is classified by a certain classification attribute. According to this figure,
Drawer 721 with "Document type" specified as classification attribute
Is created, and this designation is performed by the classification condition setting unit 630. Folders 731 and 732 corresponding to the attribute values are created under the drawer 721, and the documents 71 having the corresponding attribute values in the folders 731 and 732, respectively.
1 to 715 are classified. That is, the documents 711, 712, and 713 having the attribute value “specification” are “specification”.
Documents 714 and 715 classified into the folder 731 and having the attribute value “minutes” are classified into the “minutes” folder 732.

An example of the classification structure in the case where the documents 711 to 715 stored in the cabinet 700 in such a classified state are further classified by the classification attribute “project” is shown below.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when a document group is further classified by another classification attribute. According to this figure, a drawer 722 in which “project” is further specified as a classification attribute is created. Under this drawer 722, folders 733, 734, 735 corresponding to attribute values
Will be created in the respective folders 733, 734, 73
Documents 711 to 715 having corresponding attribute values are classified in No. 5. That is, the documents 711 and 714 having the attribute value “filing” are the “filing” folder 7
Document 71 classified into 33 and having the attribute value "printer"
2, 713 are classified in the “Printer” folder 734,
The document 715 having the attribute value “copy” is classified in the “copy” folder 735.

In this way, one cabinet can be classified and a plurality of drawers can be designated. This facilitates maintenance when it is necessary to change the classification structure, because a change in a specific classification does not affect other classifications. Further, since the document operation (attribute change, deletion) can be reflected in a plurality of classifications, it becomes easy to maintain and manage whether the classifications are performed correctly.

When creating the specified drawer,
It is also possible to create an imitation of the classification structure by specifying an existing drawer. By creating a new classification by imitating the existing classification structure of the drawer, it becomes easy to create a classification structure.

Further, in the classification structure storage unit 620,
It is possible to specify multiple cabinets from the drawer. An example of this is shown below. FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when different cabinets are classified by the same drawer.

According to this drawing, a drawer 721 in which "creation year" is designated as a classification attribute is created, and this designation is performed by the classification condition setting unit 630. This drawer 721
Below the folder is a folder 736, 737, 73 according to the attribute value.
8 are created, and the folders 736, 737, and 7 are created.
38, the documents 711 to 7 stored in the two cabinets 700 and 701 according to the attribute values corresponding to them.
17 are classified. This makes it possible to classify different file groups uniformly based on the same classification structure.

[0155]

As described above, in the file management apparatus of the present invention, the filing model control means performs basic filing operations, classifies electronic documents and files,
The external file management means enables documents under different external file systems to be handled as internal documents, and the attribute content management means manages the attributes required for filing and the actual content of the document. did.

Therefore, most of the conventional document management system and file system in the distributed environment depend on the file system of the operating system in which it is installed, and it is complicated and wasteful to realize user-oriented management. However, it is necessary to input accumulated data (electronic document or electronic file) when the operating system or storage is changed, but the device of the present invention is user-friendly and user-oriented. When management can be realized and a plurality of devices of the present invention exist on the same network, the user does not need to be aware of which device the required electronic document file exists, and the device of the present invention defines You only need to be aware of the filing model and classification.

Further, in the classification device in the file management device of the present invention, the classification below it can be defined for each hierarchical level, that is, for each node (for example, folder), and the classification structure by the folder corresponding to the attribute value is automatically set. Created to automatically classify documents, and manage the correspondence between documents and classifications (folders). This reduces the burden of document management due to automatic classification of documents by attribute value, and by changing the classification method under each hierarchy, it is possible to perform detailed classification according to the purpose. By changing only a part, the maintenance when the classification structure needs to be changed becomes easy, and the operation of the document (attribute change, deletion) can be reflected in the classification, so the classification can be performed correctly. It is easy to maintain and maintain

Further, in the classifying device in the file management device of the present invention, it is possible to set a plurality of classifications for the file group having the same attribute information at the same time,
A group of files having the same attribute information is stored in, for example, a cabinet, and a classification structure based on a hierarchy of nodes (for example, drawer / folder) is managed by, for example, a top node (drawer), and storage and classification structure are separated. A plurality of classifications can be set for each storage unit, and the same file group is classified by a plurality of methods at the same time. Further, by managing the correspondence relationship between a document and a plurality of classification structures (drawers / folders), when the attribute change or deletion of the document occurs, the result can be reflected in the plurality of classifications. As a result, changes in a specific category do not affect other categories, making maintenance easier when a change in the category structure is required and reflecting document operations (attribute changes, deletions) in multiple categories. Therefore, it becomes easy to maintain and manage whether the classification is done correctly.

Furthermore, when the file is stored in the node (for example, folder) by the storage attribute setting means, the user attribute is automatically set in the file to be stored according to the classification condition of the node. I can omit it.

Furthermore, as a classification condition of a node, a classification constraint can be set in addition to a classification attribute, and automatic classification corresponding to this can be performed, so that classification can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle configuration diagram of an electronic document file management device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an electronic document file management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing contents on the client device side when a document is registered.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart (part 1) showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of document registration.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 2) showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of document registration.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 1) showing the processing contents on the client device side in the case of taking out a registered document of a document.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (part 2) showing the processing contents on the client device side in the case of taking out a registered document of a document.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 1) showing the processing contents on the file management device side in the case of searching for a registered document.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart (part 2) showing the processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of searching for a registered document.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart (part 1) showing processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of content acquisition processing.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart (part 2) showing the processing content on the file management apparatus side in the case of content acquisition processing.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart (part 3) showing processing contents on the file management apparatus side in the case of content acquisition processing.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart (part 1) of processing on the client device side at the time of external reference registration.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart (No. 2) of processing on the client device side at the time of external reference registration.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart (part 1) showing the processing on the file management apparatus side of the reference registration request processing.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart (part 2) showing the processing on the file management apparatus side of the reference registration request processing.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart (part 3) showing the processing on the file management apparatus side of the reference registration request processing.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a mutual access method between devices of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the electronic document file management device.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for fetching external information.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when extracting the contents of a file.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when acquiring an attribute value of a file.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a document classification device in a file management device.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when no classification condition is designated.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when the classification condition is designated by one step.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when classification conditions are designated in two stages.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a screen display example of the display unit displaying the classification result in the icon format.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing another screen display example of the display unit displaying the classification results in a list format.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the flow of document group classification processing.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the flow of a classification condition changing process.

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram showing a link relationship when the classification attribute is changed.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing for registering a document in a drawer.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a flow of document registration processing in a folder.

[Fig. 34] Fig. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a process of acquiring storage attribute information.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the flow of reclassification processing by deleting a document.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a document classification device in the file management device.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of a cabinet and a document group stored when no classification condition is specified for a drawer / folder.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when a document group is classified by a certain classification attribute.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when a document group is classified by another classification attribute.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing an example of a classification structure when different cabinets are classified by the same drawer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Processing Request Receiving Means 2 Filing Model Controlling Means 3 External File Managing Means 4 Attribute Content Managing Means 5 Networks 6a, 6b File Creation Devices 7a, 7b External File Systems

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masatomi Inagaki 3-2-1 Sakado, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa KSP R & D Business Park Building Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A file management apparatus that is connected to an external file system and manages files, and a processing request receiving unit that receives a normalized processing request such as file registration, search, and retrieval, and received processing. Filing model control means for performing a basic filing operation according to a request and classifying files to be classified from one or more viewpoints using a filing model including a classification structure including a hierarchical structure of nodes; When it is necessary to access the file system of the internal file system, a communication means for accessing each of the different external file systems is provided, and reference information for accessing the file of the external file system is created. Outside requesting registration as a reference file in the format A file management device comprising: a partial file management unit; and an attribute content management unit that manages file attributes and contents necessary for the filing and filing model and the reference file requested to be registered. 2. A file management device having a classification function for hierarchically classifying files, wherein a classification structure comprising a hierarchical structure of nodes for classifying the files, attributes of files to be classified, the node and the node Link information at the time of setting a link with a file to be directly classified, and storage means for storing the classification condition of each node, setting means for setting the classification condition for the node, and the classification target file Of a node having the value of the classification attribute when the node having the value of the classification attribute as the value of the classification condition does not exist in the classification structure, and the relation between the created node and the node related to the node And a node for classifying the file based on the attribute of the file to be classified and the classification condition of the node. File management apparatus characterized by comprising an automatic classification means for setting a link between the determined node. 3. A file management device having a classification function for hierarchically classifying files, wherein a classification structure comprising a hierarchical structure of nodes for classifying the files, attributes of files to be classified, the node and the node Link information when a link is set with a file to be directly classified, classification conditions of each node, classification target file management information for managing the classification target file, and classification target file management information and one or more Storage means for storing link information when a link is set with the classification structure, and classification conditions for the node, and a link is set between the classification target file management information and one or more classification structures. When the setting structure and the node having the value of the attribute as the classification attribute of the classification target file as the value of the classification condition are not in the classification structure Creating means for creating a node having the value of the classification attribute of, and associating the created node with a node related to the node, an attribute of the file to be classified, the classification target file management information, and A file comprising: automatic classification structure means for determining a node of the one or more classification structures for classifying a file from a classification condition of the node and setting a link between the file and the determined node. Management device. 4. When the file is registered in the node, the storage attribute setting means sets at least the value of the attribute of the classification condition of the node when the attribute of the file is not set among the attributes of the file. The file management device according to claim 1, wherein the file management device is a file management device. 5. The classification condition possessed by the node is composed of classification attributes and classification constraints, the node is a directory or a drawer and a folder, and the files to be classified are managed by a cabinet. The file management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.