JP2001160052A - Document management system, document management method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (With correction) [PROBLEMS] To provide a document management system, a document management method, and a recording medium capable of easily organizing useful document data by designating a plurality of conditions. SOLUTION: When a document arrangement condition (a storage expiration date, a reference expiration date, a reference count, a processing unit) is set, and a search button is selected, if it is instructed to arrange the documents, a document directory is stored. The registered document information is compared with the document arrangement conditions, the names of the documents to be arranged are stored as a judgment result list, and if it is instructed to arrange them in folders, all the documents are organized. Only the target folder is stored as the judgment result list. The documents stored in the judgment result list are displayed as a search result list, and when an operation for selecting a document to be actually arranged is performed and the delete button is selected,
The corresponding document data or folder is deleted, and the registration information of the corresponding document is deleted from the document directory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a document management system for storing and managing image data read by an image reading device or the like or document data created by a document creation application, a document management method thereof, and a recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a document management system for storing and managing an image read by an image reading device or a document created by a document creation application, a registered document has a record such as a registration date and a reference date. An old document or document data that has not been used for a long time can be sorted out by searching for a document that is left and specified a date.

[0003]

However, according to the above-described conventional method, it is possible to sort a document that is not used based on a reference date or the like. Organizing documents, including conditions, was not easy. For example, in a UNIX system,
Obtain the registration information of the document by creating a processing script, select the registration date, reference date, document file size, or the document containing a specific character string based on the registration information, delete it or delete it to other media Although it is possible to execute the backup process, the user has to create a complicated processing script each time, which is not an easy method for ordinary users.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional method, when a document to be sorted is searched from a registration date, a reference date, etc., an old document which is relatively frequently used, or a document which has not been used recently. In the past, there was a risk that documents that were often used and might be used in the future are also to be sorted.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional method, documents are arranged in units of documents. Therefore, even when a plurality of documents form a group, only some of the documents are targeted.
There was also a problem that the document structure was lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and a document management system, a document management method, and a recording system capable of easily organizing useful document data by designating a plurality of conditions. The purpose is to provide a medium.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a document management system according to a first aspect of the present invention has a registration unit for registering a document, and searches, displays, or prints the registered document. In a document management system that can
Registration date storage means for storing the registration date of the registered document, reference date storage means for storing the reference date on which the registered document was referenced, and a value for determining the number of days elapsed from the registration date A storage time limit specifying means, a reference count specifying means for specifying a value for determining the number of times the registered document has been referenced from the registration date, and a registration date stored in the registration date storage means. Determining the usefulness of the registered document based on the reference date stored in the reference date storage unit, the value specified by the storage period specifying unit, and the value specified by the reference count specifying unit. A usefulness discriminating means for discriminating, and a document processing means for organizing the registered documents based on a result discriminated by the usefulness discriminating means are provided.

A document management system according to a second aspect of the present invention is the document management system according to the second aspect, wherein a document instructing whether to arrange the documents registered in the registration means in a document unit or a predetermined group unit. An arrangement unit designating unit, wherein the usefulness determining unit includes a registration date stored in the registration date storage unit, a reference date stored in the reference date storage unit, and a value designated by the storage period designation unit. When,
The usefulness of the registered document is determined in document units or predetermined group units in accordance with an instruction from the document organizing unit instruction unit, based on the value specified by the reference count specification unit. .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document management method for registering a document and searching, displaying, or printing the registered document, wherein a registration date of the registered document is stored. A value for storing a reference date at which the registered document was referenced, specifying a value for determining the number of days elapsed from the registration date, and determining the number of times the registered document was referenced from the registration date Specify, the stored registration date, the stored reference date, the specified value, based on the specified value, determine the usefulness of the registered document, Based on the determined result,
The registered document is sorted out.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the document management method according to the third aspect.
In the document management method, it is instructed whether to arrange the registered documents in a document unit or a predetermined group unit, and in accordance with the instruction, in a document unit or a predetermined group unit, the registered document is It is characterized by determining usefulness.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which a document is registered and a document management program is recorded in a format readable by a computer of a document management system capable of searching, displaying, or printing the registered document. In the recording medium, the document management program includes a registration date storage step of storing a registration date of the registered document, and a reference date storage step of storing a reference date when the registered document is referred to,
A storage time limit specifying step of specifying a value for determining the number of days elapsed from the registration date, and a reference number specifying step of specifying a value for determining the number of times the registered document has been referenced from the registration date The registration date stored in the registration date storage step, the reference date stored in the reference date storage step, the value specified in the storage term specification step, and the value specified in the reference count specification step. And a document processing step of organizing the registered documents based on a result determined in the usefulness determining step. It is characterized by the following.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording medium according to the fifth aspect, wherein the document management program arranges the documents registered in the registration step in document units or in predetermined group units. In the usefulness determination step, the registration date stored in the registration date storage step, the reference date stored in the reference date storage step, and the storage term specification step Based on the specified value and the value specified in the reference count specifying step, the usefulness of the registered document is determined in a document unit or a predetermined group unit according to the instruction in the document organizing unit specifying step. It is characterized by doing.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a document management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a document registration unit 101 registers a document (image) captured by a scanner (not shown) or a document created by a document creation application or the like under the management of the document management system according to the present embodiment. Things.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a document reference unit, which searches for a document by document search or folder operation, and displays or prints the document. Reference numeral 103 denotes a storage period designation unit,
Specify the number of days for determining whether or not the document is to be sorted based on the number of days that have elapsed since the document was registered. 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a reference time limit specifying unit, which specifies the number of days for determining whether or not the document is to be rearranged based on the number of days elapsed since the date when the document was last referenced. Reference numeral 105 denotes a reference count designating unit, which designates the reference count for determining whether or not the document is to be sorted based on the reference count since the document was registered. Reference numeral 106 denotes a processing unit designating unit, which designates whether document organization is performed in document units or folder units.

Reference numeral 107 denotes a document storage unit, and the document registration unit 1
01, the registered document is stored. 108
A registration date storage unit stores the registration date of registered document data in accordance with an instruction from the document registration unit 101. 109
A reference date storage unit stores the registration unit as an initial value when document data is registered according to an instruction from the document registration unit 101, and stores a reference date when document data is referenced by the document reference unit 102. Reference numeral 110 denotes a reference count storage unit, which includes a counter for counting the reference count. An initial value is set when document data is registered according to an instruction from the document registration unit 101, and the counter is incremented by "1" when document data is referenced by the document reference unit 102.

Reference numeral 111 denotes a document comparison / judgment unit. The registration unit, the reference date, and the reference count of the document data are stored in the storage expiration date designation unit 103, the reference expiration date designation unit 104, and the reference count designation unit 10, respectively.
When all of the conditions specified in step 5 are met, the corresponding document is output to the determination result storage unit 112. When the processing in the folder unit is selected by the processing unit designating unit 106,
When all the documents in the folder are to be sorted, the folder name is sent to the determination result storage unit 112. The determination result storage unit 112 stores the name of the document to be sorted and the document information of the document.

Reference numeral 113 denotes a judgment result processing unit which performs a predetermined document organizing process with the corresponding document or folder stored in the judgment result storage unit 112 as an object of organizing. In the present embodiment, as the document organizing process, for example, a process of deleting a document from the document storage unit 107 and a process of backing up to an external storage device (not shown) such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk are performed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document management system for realizing the above functions. In FIG. 1, a document management system includes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “CPU”) 201 composed of a microprocessor for performing arithmetic and logical determinations of the document management system, and for inputting a name and ancillary information of a document to be registered. Keyboard (K
B) 202, a display device 204 for displaying various information for performing an operation required for document registration management, and a display device 204
Mouse 203 used for a selection operation on the selection screen displayed on the screen and document creation work, etc., and a floppy disk drive (FDD) 205 used for a document backup process and the like.
And a scanner 206 for reading a document on a document as an image
And a read-only fixed memory (hereinafter referred to as “RO”) in which a program for executing a processing procedure described later is stored.
M ") 207, a random access memory (hereinafter referred to as" RAM ") 208 for temporarily storing data when the CPU 201 makes arithmetic / logical decisions, etc., document data, registration date, number of references, designation of storage expiration date A hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as “HDD”) 2 for storing various data used in the document management system, such as a value, a reference time limit value, a reference count value, a processing unit value, and a determination result.
09, and each component 201-2
09 are connected to each other via a bus (BUS) 210.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of managing various data stored in the HDD 209.

As shown in FIG. 3A, reference numeral 301 denotes an HDD
A directory of the entire data stored in the HDD 209 is shown. The HDD 209 is assigned a document information storage area 311 for storing document information and a work information storage area 310 for storing work information.

The document information storage area 311 is composed of a document directory 302 shown in FIG. The document directory 302 includes at least an area 312 for storing a document name and an area 313 for storing a registration date of the document.
And an area 314 for storing the date when the document was last referenced as a reference date, and an area 3 for storing the reference count of the document
15 and an area 3 for storing information indicating the storage location of the document
16. The storage destination indicated by the information stored in the area 316 is the document data area 303
Indicates the area in which the content of each document data is stored.

The work place information storage area 310 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the work directory 304 stores a storage location of a value designated for document organization. Specifically, the work directory 304 is an area for storing the name of a work area in which values such as a storage expiration value, a reference expiration time value, a reference count value, and a processing unit value are stored for document organization. 317 and an area 318 for storing information indicating the storage destination. The storage destination indicated by the information stored in the area 318 indicates an area in the work data area 305 in which values for document organization are stored. The processing unit designation value is a value that is set to “1” when a check mark is added, and is set to “0” otherwise. The work directory 304 stores a target document name or folder name searched by the document comparison / determination unit 111 illustrated in FIG. 1 and related document information as a determination result list.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a basic screen configuration (DMS) displayed on the display device 204.

In the figure, a menu is provided at the top of the screen 401, and various operations for this document management system can be selected. Scan functions and the like that are frequently used can be directly displayed by displaying icons. As a result, the operation of the system is facilitated.

At the center left of the screen 401, folders for the document management system are displayed hierarchically, and a large number of documents can be organized and stored for each folder. At the center right of the screen 401, a document list of the selected street folder is displayed together with document information such as a registration date.

In the document list, the display mode can be switched to a reduced image of the document, and the overview of the page can be confirmed. In order to check the contents of the document in detail, the document can be selected and enlarged and displayed.

At the lower left of the screen 401, icons indicating a printing device, a facsimile device, and the like which are usually used as an output destination are arranged. At the lower right of the screen, various applications that can be started from the application are registered, and the image data can be directly passed to the image application, or the result of character recognition of the image data can be passed to the document creation application.

With the above-described screen configuration, a document management system is provided in which a document can be easily registered and referenced by operating with a mouse or a keyboard (KB).

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a document organizing instruction screen for instructing document organizing. In the figure, a document arrangement instruction screen 501 includes an area 502 for instructing document arrangement conditions, a search button 503 for executing a search, and the like. In the present embodiment, as the document organizing conditions, the number of days elapsed since registration, the number of days elapsed since the last reference, the number of times of reference to the document, and the like are selected, and a value serving as a criterion is specified for each. Can be. And
By pressing the search button 503, the document arrangement conditions are compared with the registered document information, and a document name and document information that match all the conditions are displayed on the screen. If the “processing unit” in the area 502 is checked, it is determined that the search is a folder-based search instruction, and only the folder name for which all documents in the folder are to be sorted is displayed on the screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a search result list of documents to be sorted based on the search results. In the figure, in the center of the screen, as a search result list 601, document information such as a registration part of the document, a reference date, and the number of times of reference are displayed together with the document name as the document to be sorted. Note that this list 601
A close button 602 for closing the screen display of the list 601, a delete button 603 for instructing a process of deleting the document displayed on the list 601, and a list 6 below
A backup button 604 or the like for instructing a backup process of the document displayed at 01 is arranged. Select all or a part of the document to be rearranged and click the delete button 603.
Is selected, the selected document is stored in the HDD 209.
Can be deleted from. Similarly, by selecting all or a part of the document to be rearranged and selecting the backup button, a copy of the selected document can be created in an external storage device such as a floppy disk.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a document management procedure executed in the document management system according to this embodiment. Specifically, various processes such as document registration, document reference, and document organization are executed. Note that the process of reading a registered document by the scanner 206 and the process of reading a file from the HDD 209 are realized by a known technique, and thus detailed description of the procedure is omitted.

First, when the present document management system is started, initial settings are made for each unit connected to the system, and the use of the document management system is enabled (step S701). In this state, an operation from the mouse 203 or the keyboard 202 is accepted (step S702), and it is determined whether the operation is an instruction to perform a document registration process, a document reference process, or a document organization process (step S703). .

If it is determined that the instruction is to perform document registration processing from the scanner 206 or the floppy disk device 205 to the document processing system, the document registration processing is performed (step S704). If a document is selected from the document list display shown in FIG. 4 and the enlarged display of the document is selected, it is determined that an instruction to perform the document reference process has been given, and the document reference process is performed (step S705). .
If the instruction is a document organizing process, the document organizing process is performed (step S706). Step S70
Upon completion of each of the processing in steps S4 to S706, step S702 is performed.
The process returns to.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the document registration processing procedure performed in step S704.

When a document registration process is instructed, first, a document fetch process is executed from the scanner 206, the floppy disk device 205, or the like (step S801). The read document is stored in the document information storage area 303 in the HDD 209 (step S802). The document name is stored in the area 312 of the document directory 302 (step S803). Then, the current date held by the system is acquired, and the date is registered in area 313 as a registration date (step S804), and registered in area 314 as a reference date (step S805). In addition, the area 31
The value of the reference count of 5 is initially set to “0” (step S806). When the address in the document information storage area 303 where the document is stored in step S802 is registered as the storage destination in the area 316 (step S807), the association between the document and the document information is established. When the document registration process and the initial setting of the document information are performed in this manner, the document registration process is completed.

FIG. 9 is performed in step S705.
11 is a flowchart illustrating a document reference procedure for selecting a reference document, enlarging and displaying document data, and updating a reference date and reference count used for document management, and the like.

On the document list display shown in FIG. 4, a document to be referred to is selected using the keyboard 202 or the mouse 203 (step S901), and when the enlarged display of the document is instructed, the contents of the document are displayed. It is displayed on the display screen (step S902). Then, the current date held by the system is acquired, and the date is registered in the area 314 as a reference date (step S903).
The reference count of the area 315 is obtained, “1” is added to the reference count, and the reference count is stored again in the area 315 (step S904). When the document reference process is selected by such a process, the reference date and the reference count are updated.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a document organizing procedure for performing document organizing processes such as instructing document organizing conditions, searching, deleting, and backing up documents to be organized.

First, document arrangement conditions are set on the display screen shown in FIG. 5 (step S1001). The input values are stored in the work area 305 shown in FIG. 3 as a storage expiration date specified value, a reference expiration date specified value, a reference count specified value, and a processing unit specified value.

Next, when the search button 503 is selected,
It is determined whether or not it is instructed to organize in folder units as the processing unit designation value (step S100).
2) If it is instructed to arrange the documents in units of documents, the document information registered in the document directory 302 is compared with the document arrangement conditions, and only documents that match all the conditions are extracted. The determination result list of the work area 305 shown in FIG. 3 is stored (step S100).
3). If it is instructed to organize in folders, all documents are collated in the same manner as in step S1003, but only folders in which all documents are to be organized are extracted and determined. It is stored as a result list (step S1004). Step S1
The document list stored in the determination result list in step 003 or step S1004 is displayed as a search result list as shown in FIG. 6 (step S1005).

Next, on the display screen shown in FIG. 6, an operation of selecting a document to be actually organized is performed (step S1006). The selection operation is performed using the keyboard 202 or the mouse 203. If no selection is made, all displayed documents are to be sorted. Then, it is determined whether the close button 602, the delete button 604, or the backup button 604 shown in FIG. 6 has been selected as the content of the document arrangement (step S1007).
3 is selected, the document data area 30 shown in FIG.
3, the corresponding document data or folder is deleted (step S1008), and the registration information of the corresponding document is deleted from the document directory 302 (step S1009). When the backup button 604 is selected, the corresponding document is copied, and the registration information in the document directory 302 of the corresponding document and the document data in the document data area 303 are stored in an external storage device such as the floppy disk device 205. (Step S1010). When the processing in step S1009 or step S1010 ends, the process returns to step S1006.

When the close button 602 is selected, the search result list 601 shown in FIG. 6 is closed, and the document organizing process ends.

As described above, according to this embodiment, useful document data can be easily arranged by designating a plurality of conditions without performing complicated processing as in the related art.

Further, the contents of the work of organizing the documents searched by executing a plurality of conditions are selected from a deletion process or a backup process after confirming the target document. It is possible to solve a problem that a document that is used well or a document that has not been used recently but has been frequently used and may be used in the future is also targeted for arrangement. .

Also, when designating document arrangement conditions, by adding conditions for organizing each folder, a folder name is displayed as a search result only when all documents in the folder are targeted, and the folder name is displayed. It is possible to arrange the units, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the already constructed document structure from being lost.

As long as the functions of the present invention are executed, the processing of the document management system via a network such as a LAN, whether it is a single device or a system including a plurality of devices, can be performed. It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system to be performed.

A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU, MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, the object of the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

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

The functions of the above-described embodiments are realized when the computer executes the readout program codes, and the OS or the like running on the computer performs processing based on the instructions of the program codes. It goes without saying that there may be cases where some or all of the above are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the program code is read based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a CPU or the like provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0053]

As described above, according to the document management system of the first aspect or the document management method of the third aspect, the registration date of the registered document is stored, and the registered document is referred to. The reference date is stored, a value for determining the number of days elapsed since the registration date is specified, and a value for determining the number of times the registered document is referred to from the registration date is specified. Based on the registered date, the stored reference date, the specified value, and the specified value, and determines the usefulness of the registered document, based on the determined result. Since the registered documents are arranged, the useful document data can be easily arranged by designating a plurality of conditions without performing complicated processing as in the related art. can get. In addition, since the contents of a document searched by performing a plurality of conditions are arranged after confirming a target document, for example, an old document that is relatively frequently used, This has the effect of eliminating the problem that documents that have not been used recently but have been used frequently before and are likely to be used in the future are also targeted for arrangement.

According to the document management system of the second aspect or the document management method of the fourth aspect, it is instructed whether to arrange the registered documents in a document unit or a predetermined group unit. Accordingly, the usefulness of the registered document is determined in document units or in predetermined group units. Therefore, in addition to the above-described effects, only when all the documents in the folder are targeted, the folder name is used as a search result. Is displayed, the folder can be organized, and the effect that the document structure already constructed can be prevented from being lost can be obtained.

According to the recording medium of the fifth aspect, a document management program is provided in a format readable by a computer of a document management system capable of registering a document and searching, displaying, or printing the registered document. In the recorded recording medium, the document management program includes: a registration date storage step of storing a registration date of the registered document; a reference date storage step of storing a reference date in which the registered document is referred to; A storage time limit specifying step of specifying a value for determining the number of days elapsed from the registration date, and a reference count specifying step of specifying a value for determining the number of times the registered document has been referenced from the registration date, The registration date stored in the registration date storage step, the reference date stored in the reference date storage step, the value specified in the storage term specification step, Based on the value specified in the number-of-times specifying step, a usefulness determining step of determining the usefulness of the registered document, and based on a result determined in the usefulness determining step, Since a document processing step for organizing is included, the document management program recorded on the recording medium is read by a computer of the document management system and executed, whereby the document management program is equivalent to the document management system of claim 1 described above. The effect of can be obtained.

According to the recording medium of the sixth aspect, the document management program is a document organizing unit instruction for instructing whether to arrange the documents registered in the registration step in a unit of a document or in a unit of a predetermined group. Including a step, in the usefulness determination step, the registration date stored in the registration date storage step, the reference date stored in the reference date storage step, the value specified in the storage term designation step, Since the usefulness of the registered document is determined in document units or predetermined group units in accordance with the instruction in the document organizing unit instruction step, based on the value designated in the reference count designation step, The computer-readable medium of the document management system reads the document management program recorded on the recording medium and executes the program. It is possible to obtain a document management system and effect equivalent to that of.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a document management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document management system that realizes the functions shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for managing various data stored in an HDD 209.

FIG. 4 shows a basic screen configuration (D
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of (MS).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a document arrangement instruction screen for instructing document arrangement.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a search result list of documents to be sorted based on search results.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a document management procedure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a document registration process performed in step S704.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a document reference processing procedure performed in step S705.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a document organizing process performed in step S706.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 CPU 202 Keyboard 203 Mouse 204 Display device 205 Floppy disk device 206 Scanner 207 ROM 208 RAM 209 Hard disk device

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A document management system having a registration unit for registering a document and capable of searching, displaying, or printing the registered document, a registration date storing a registration date of the registered document. Storage means; a reference date storage means for storing a reference date on which the registered document was referred to; a storage term specification means for specifying a value for determining the number of days elapsed from the registration date; and Reference count specifying means for specifying a value for determining the number of times the registered document has been referred to; a registration date stored in the registration date storage means; and a reference date stored in the reference date storage means. A utility determining unit that determines the usefulness of the registered document based on a value specified by the storage period specifying unit and a value specified by the reference count specifying unit; To Based on the determined result,
A document processing unit for organizing the registered documents. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a document arrangement unit designating unit for designating whether to arrange the documents registered in the registration unit in a document unit or a predetermined group unit. Based on the registration date stored in the storage means, the reference date stored in the reference date storage means, the value specified by the storage term specification means, and the value specified by the reference count specification means, 2. The document management system according to claim 1, wherein the utility of the registered document is determined in a unit of a document or in a unit of a predetermined group in accordance with an instruction from the document arrangement unit instructing unit. 3. A document management method for registering a document and searching, displaying, or printing the registered document, wherein a registration date of the registered document is stored, and the registered document is referred to. Storing a reference date, specifying a value for determining the number of days elapsed from the registration date, specifying a value for determining the number of times the registered document has been referenced from the registration date, Based on the registration date, the stored reference date, the specified value, and the specified value, determine the usefulness of the registered document.Based on the determined result, A document management method, which comprises organizing the registered documents. 4. Instructing whether to arrange the registered documents in a document unit or a predetermined group unit, and in accordance with the instruction, in a document unit or a predetermined group unit,
4. The document management method according to claim 3, wherein usefulness of the registered document is determined. 5. A recording medium storing a document management program in a format readable by a computer of a document management system capable of registering a document and performing search, display, or printing of the registered document. A management program, a registration date storage step of storing a registration date of the registered document; a reference date storage step of storing a reference date in which the registered document is referred to; and determining an elapsed number of days from the registration date. A storage time limit specifying step of specifying a value for performing the registration, a reference count specifying step of specifying a value for determining the number of times the registered document has been referenced from the registration date, and Registered date, the reference date stored in the reference date storage step, the value specified in the storage term specification step, and the reference number in the reference number specification step. A usefulness determining step of determining the usefulness of the registered document based on the registered value; and a document processing of organizing the registered document based on a result determined in the usefulness determining step. And a recording medium. 6. The document management program according to claim 1, further comprising a document organizing unit instruction step for instructing whether to arrange the documents registered in the registration step in a document unit or a predetermined group unit. In the step, the registration date stored in the registration date storage step, the reference date stored in the reference date storage step, the value specified in the storage term specification step, and the value specified in the reference count specification step 6. The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein usefulness of the registered document is determined in document units or in predetermined group units according to an instruction in the document organizing unit instruction step based on the value.