JPH03110642A - Document constituting device for distributed file system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To avoid unnecessary overlapping preservation or the like and to easily constitute a document by virtually constituting a new document only with information (like information) indicating the file attribute of a document file. CONSTITUTION:A document constituting device 10 (work station) constitutes a desired document (manual or the like) based on the document file distributed and preserved in a file server 11 or 12 while inquiring of a resource information managing device 17. A work area control part 106 executes prescribed control in accordance with the command from a document constitution control part 102, and the document (a virtual document where link information are arranged as pointers) constituted in the work area of a main memory 105 through these control is registered and stored as one file in a link information area 103a of a file part 103. Thus, the document is easily constituted based on respective distributed and preserved document files, and unnecessary overlapping of these document files is avoided to efficiently preserve the document.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to document processing in a distributed file system that constructs a new document structure by arbitrarily relating document files that are distributed and stored on a network. Regarding the construction device, especially when the documents to be constructed are large documents such as various manuals (handbooks), and each document file stored in a distributed manner has elements that can be used for each document constructed each time. To realize a device that can be applied to a distributed file system in which the locations of these document file names are centrally managed via the network and can easily and highly efficiently construct documents. Regarding.

[Prior Art] For example, when considering product manuals for electronic switching equipment, etc., they include many items such as product specifications, instruction manuals, circuit diagrams, etc., and provide detailed explanations for each item. Usually, the amount of documents involved is enormous. In addition, when it comes to such manuals, there is usually one original manual for a certain product, and even if improvements have been made to the same product, some or many of the manuals are based on this improved manual. It can often be used as a product manual.

In recent years, document creation devices such as word processors have come to be used to create such manuals.

By the way, when creating and editing the above-mentioned manuals or managing document files using such a document creation device, considering the above-mentioned characteristics of these manuals and the document diversion function of the document creation device itself, (I) ) Organize document files related to each manual and register and save them in an external storage device such as a floppy disk.

(b) When it becomes necessary to revise a certain manual due to product improvements, etc., retrieve the document files stored in the external storage device that require revision. Import the document into the document creation device and modify (including deletion and addition) any parts that require revision as appropriate.

(c) The document file modified in this way is saved with a new version number in order to distinguish it from the original document file.

(d) On the document creation device, combine desired document files, including the above-mentioned revised document files, with the desired structure of the revised manual, and create a new manual as the revised version. Also, if necessary,
Print this revised manual.

Such methods are generally adopted. This makes it possible to revise and construct documents such as the product manuals, which require a huge amount of documents, without having to re-create them all one by one.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] According to these methods that take advantage of the characteristics of document creation devices,
This certainly avoids the inconvenience of having to re-create all documents each time it becomes necessary to partially revise a document (manual). However, in this case, managing the document file itself through an external storage device such as the floppy disk becomes extremely troublesome.

In other words, as the number and types of manuals increase, organizing the document files that make up these manuals becomes complicated, especially when there are revisions to document files that are commonly used in multiple manuals. Even managing version consistency requires a significant amount of effort. In the end, the current situation is that both original document files and revised document files are saved in duplicate for each manual.

Furthermore, although a new document is constructed by sequentially combining desired document files, when each of these combined document files is large in capacity and there are many of them, as in the case of the product manual mentioned above, Therefore, the task of document construction itself becomes extremely complicated.

Currently, personal computers that also serve as document creation devices and workstations with excellent document creation capabilities are networked, and the document files mentioned above are also distributed and stored on file storage devices installed on these networks. So-called distributed file systems have come into use, and although the complexity of managing and operating document files themselves has been eased to some extent, problems related to the duplicate storage of document files mentioned above, or large-scale Problems related to the complexity of constructing such documents, etc., have basically not been resolved at all.

This invention was made in view of these circumstances, and is particularly based on the above-mentioned distributed file system, which facilitates the construction of large-scale documents (as described above) based on each document file stored in a distributed manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a document construction device in a distributed file system that can realize efficient document storage by avoiding unnecessary duplication of these document files.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, files are distributed and stored in a plurality of file storage devices on the network (including a file device built into or connected to a document creation device in some cases). In order to construct a document having a new structure based on a plurality of document files, (a) based on a predetermined instruction operation through an appropriate input device, for example, a specific document creation device, a device connected to the network; A first control means that reads a file list of existing document files from each file storage device and visually displays the read file list on a monitor screen of the document creation device.

(b) In response to a predetermined instruction operation of the document file displayed as this file list through the document creation device, the specified document file and its storage destination are recognized, and the recognized document file storage destination is a second control means for requesting the transfer of information indicating file attributes of the document file;

(e) Third control means for automatically registering information indicating the file attributes transferred in response to this request in a predetermined storage area in a predetermined order.

A new document structure is virtually constructed based on the combination of information indicating the registered file attributes.

[Operation] In a distributed file system, things such as what types of document files are stored in which file storage devices are usually managed in advance.

On the premise of such file management, the first control means accesses the file storage device specified by the user (operator) and presents the user with a file list of document files stored therein, This allows the user to confirm and select which document files are required to construct the new document.

The second control means recognizes the content of the document file selected by the user and instructs the corresponding storage destination to transfer information indicating the file attributes of the corresponding document file. Here, the information indicating this file attribute includes, for example, information indicating the file name of the corresponding document file, information indicating the file format of the document file, information indicating the save destination of the document file, and information indicating the storage location of the document file. This is so-called reference information consisting of information indicating the version number of the file, etc., and does not include the actual file containing the document data as the document file. Incidentally, this can greatly simplify the document construction work described above, even if it is hypothetical, and the information actually registered during document construction consists only of these reference information, which does not include the actual file. This means that unnecessary duplication of document files (document data) can be effectively avoided.

Then, the third control means actually constructs a virtual document while ranking the information in a predetermined manner, such as by arranging pointers to the information indicating the file attributes thus transferred.

In this way, according to the first to third control means, the user simply specifies the desired document file each time, and the document having the structure conforming to the specification mode is easily created. New construction will become more efficient.

In addition, in order to visually display the actual document file (document data) of the document constructed in this way on the monitor screen or print it through the printer, (d) Indicate all the registered file attributes. Based on the information, information indicating at least the file name of each of the corresponding document files is displayed in a list on the monitor screen in the order of registration or in the order of arrangement specified through, for example, the specific document creation device as an input device. Fourth control means.

(e) In response to a predetermined instruction operation of the displayed information through the document creation device, the specified document file and its storage destination are recognized, and the information is applied to the recognized document file storage destination. Fifth control means for requesting transfer of a substantial file for the recognized document file.

(“) A sixth control means that automatically transfers the entity file transferred in response to this request to a predetermined storage area in accordance with the arrangement order of information indicating the predetermined ordered file attributes.

etc., and the actual file transferred in this way,
The information may be output to the above-mentioned monitor screen or to a printer or the like. As a result, regarding the above actual file,
It becomes possible to easily and efficiently reproduce it as a newly constructed document without bothering the user.These fourth to sixth control means also handle different information, but their basic functions are , and actions are abbreviations of the functions and actions of the first to third control means, respectively. However, in the case of printing, etc., the entity transferred by the transfer request by the fifth control means About the file
It is not necessarily necessary to -U transfer this to the storage area, and it is also possible to directly output the transferred entity file to a printer or the like.

[Embodiment] FIG. 10 shows a distributed file/distributed processing system to which the embodiment of the present invention described below is applied.
This shows the concept.

That is, in the system shown in FIG. 10, NWI and NW2 are networks, and among the elements connected to these networks NWI and NW2, respectively, a file storage device (hereinafter referred to as a file server) 11
．． 12 or 21.22 is a part that stores and manages the aforementioned document files and other various files in a distributed manner, and a document creation device (here, a workstation such as JStar is assumed) 13.14 or 23.24 The print server 15 or 25 is a part that executes processing such as creation of document files and construction, publication, and management of these document files as the aforementioned manual based on interactive work with the user. 13.14 or 23.2
4, the communication server 16 or 26, which performs the print service for the designated document, physically and logically connects these two networks NWI and NW2 via public lines etc. The part that realizes information communication between these networks and the resource information management device 17 or 27 cooperate with each other through these communication servers 17 and 27 to communicate information between each corresponding network and each other. We manage information regarding users, services, etc. of each of the above parts connected to the network in multiple ways, and respond to requests from users of these networks.
This is the part that provides the information it manages.

In addition, in such a distributed file/distributed processing system, for example, each document file that is a constituent element of the various manuals is usually organized and distributed by type or function and stored in each of the above file servers. There is. Therefore, when users of the network perform their respective assigned tasks through the document creation device, they may inquire of the resource information management device 18 or 28 as necessary, and the resource information management device 18 or For example, as long as management information regarding a file server is obtained from 28, information such as what types or functions of document files are stored in which file server is usually obvious.

In addition, when each of the above file servers saves and manages the assigned document files, etc., the "information indicating the attributes" of the file and the "substantive file" consisting of the document data itself, for example, are linked to each other. The documents are stored and managed separately, and in response to the user's request through the document creation device, not only the list of document files to be managed, but also the information indicating the attributes, or the actual file. ”, they can freely provide the information they need.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a document construction device according to the present invention, which is applied to such a distributed file/distributed processing system to construct large-scale documents such as the aforementioned product manuals.

As shown in FIG. 1, this document construction device 10:
For example, network N of the system illustrated in FIG.
Connected to WI, resource information management device 17 if necessary
While making an inquiry to the file server 11 or 12
(In some cases, the file server 21 or 22 of the network NW2 connected via the communication servers 16 and 26) can be used to create a desired document (manual, etc.) based on document files that are distributed and stored. It is a device that performs

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the document construction device 10 uses JS
It is assumed that the document construction device 10 has the function of a document construction device added to a workstation such as Lar, and although it is not particularly shown in FIG. It also has basic functions. However, it is assumed that the document files stored in the file server 11 or 12 have been created in advance through the document creation device 13 or 14 shown in FIG. 1, and have been revised.

Hereinafter, the configuration of such an embodiment of the document construction apparatus and the functions of each component will be explained based on FIG. 1.

In the document construction device 10, a document construction procedure registration section 10
Reference numeral 1 denotes a so-called program memory in which a main program for making this device (workstation) 10 function as a document construction device is registered, and a document construction control unit 1
02 is the same device (workstation) based on the main program registered in the document construction procedure registration unit 101.
This is the part that executes the actual horizontal construction of documents by comprehensively controlling each peripheral part while realizing interactive work with the user of 10, and the document construction device 10 basically performs these document constructions. Procedure registration unit 101 and document construction control unit 10
2, the actual specifications for the horizontal construction of the document have been determined. The contents of the main program registered in the document construction procedure registration section 101 and the details of the document construction processing executed by the document construction control section 102 based on this program will be explained later in the relevant section with reference to FIG. This will be made clear through an explanation of the operation of the document construction device 10.

In the document construction device 10, the file section 103 is an auxiliary memory such as a so-called fixed disk device in which each document constructed through the document horizontal construction control section 102 is registered and stored as a file. , these file section 103 and document construction control section 1
02, writing a file to the file unit 103 in response to a command from the document construction control unit 102, or reading a file specified by the document construction control unit 102 from the file unit 103, This is an auxiliary memory control unit that executes.

Here, as will be described in detail later, the document construction control unit 102 constructs the document to be constructed using [A] the "information indicating attributes" (hereinafter referred to as "information indicating attributes") of each document file that is a component of the document desired to be constructed. It is a so-called virtual document that has a pointer array containing only "link information".

The constructed document is also registered and stored in the file unit 103 as a virtual document file constituted by the pointer array of such link information. In FIG. 1, the area where this virtual document file is registered is the link information area 103a.
It is illustrated for convenience as . Incidentally, in FIG. 1, the entity file area 103b shown in the file section 103 is [131] [131] The above-mentioned "substantive files" of the corresponding document files are arranged and combined in accordance with the arrangement of the above link information. All or part of a substantive document.

This is an area that is stored separately under a transcription command from the document construction control unit 102, which will be described later.This area is mainly used to visually display such a substantial document on a monitor screen, or to It is used as a so-called temporary file area for temporarily storing document data when it becomes necessary to print through the print server 15. However, if this substantive document is also stored as a file in the file unit 103 in addition to the virtual document based on the pointer array of the link information, this substantive document will also be used as the storage area for the substantive document. File area 103b is used. Furthermore, examples of the file attribute information employed in this embodiment as the link information are listed in FIG.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the link information includes "file name", "file type", "service name (storage name)", "file path name (
Six types of file attribute information are used: search route), file capacity, and version number. Incidentally, the "file name" is information indicating the name given to the document file, and the "file type"
This means whether the document file is a document data file consisting of normal character data, graphic data, table data, etc., or a so-called directory that has multiple document data files related to each other in a hierarchical structure. Information indicating the file format of the file, such as whether it is a unit file or whether the file is an image data file composed of bitmaps etc. "File bus name (search route)" is information that informs the search route (including directory) of the document file as a so-called path name. "File capacity" refers to the capacity of the document file (for example, JS
In Lar, this information is expressed as the number of disk pages, with 512 bytes as one disk page), and the "version number" is information that indicates the number of disk pages (512 bytes is one disk page). This is number information given for identification.

In this document construction device 10, the main memory 105 is a real memory area such as a RAM that is used as a work area when the document construction control section 102 executes document construction processing, and a work area control section 106 is
Interposed between this main memory 105 and the document construction control section 102, in response to a command from the document construction control section 102, (1) Acquisition of the work area from the main memory 105 when starting the document construction process. .

(2) Writing necessary information into this acquisition area or reading information in the same area into the document construction control unit 102 during document construction processing.

, (3) Releasing the acquired work area at the end of the document construction process.

This is the part that executes such controls. Through these controls, the documents (virtual documents in which link information is arranged with pointers) built horizontally in the work area are transferred to the file section 103 as needed (more precisely, in response to an operation end command to be described later). It comes to be registered and stored as one file in the link information area 103a.

Further, in this document construction device 10, the floppy disk device 107 is a well-known device used for storing the constructed document on a floppy disk, and the floppy control unit 108 is connected to the floppy disk device 107 and the document construction device. a part interposed between the control unit 102 and controlling reading and writing of necessary data based on commands from the document construction control unit 102 with respect to a floppy disk mounted in the floppy disk device 107;
The monitor device 109 is a well-known CRT display or the like, and is a device that visually displays necessary information such as operation guidance and document data of the document construction device 10 to the user as appropriate. A part that is interposed between the device 109 and the document construction control section 102 and controls the driving of the monitor device 109, a keyboard 111, and The mouse 112 is a well-known input or instruction device, and the input command decoder 113 is the display controller 11.
This is a part that decodes the content of instructions from the keyboard 111 or mouse 112 corresponding to the information whose display is controlled through 0, that is, the content of input commands by the user, and notifies the document construction control unit 102 of this. Each of these devices or parts is also common to other document creation devices 13 or 14 as workstations.

In this document construction device 10, the network control section 114 is interposed between the previous network (network NWI in this example) and the document construction control section 102, and is configured to control the main network based on instructions from the document construction control section 102. (1) Inquiry of the resource information management device 17 (or 27) for desired information (mainly a file server list indicating document storage assignments of each file server, etc.) and taking in the response information.

(2) The file server 11.12 (or 21.22)
), and import the transfer list.

(3) The file server 11.12 (or 21.22)
), and import the transfer information.

(4) The file server 11.12 (or 21.22)
), and import the transferred file.

(5) A request to print the desired document to the print server 15 (or 25).

This is the part that executes the following. Through this network control unit 114, efficient document construction processing can be realized as the document construction device of this embodiment, making effective use of the distributed file system targeted here.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the operation of the document construction apparatus of this embodiment will be described in detail.

In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the document construction apparatus 10 is of a type in which a so-called desktop screen is initially displayed on the monitor device 109, for example, as shown in FIG. Specifically, as mentioned above, a workstation such as JSLar is assumed). In this type of device, the user normally selects any one of the icons (pictograms) 91 displayed on this screen (usually using the mouse 112). It is well known that a pre-registered process (program) corresponding to an icon is automatically started. In this embodiment, in particular, when an icon 91a, hereinafter referred to as a link folder, is selected from among the displayed icons 91, the document construction device 10 is activated,
It is assumed that the process shown in FIG. 3 is started in response to various input commands from the user thereafter. In addition, this “
The "link folder" itself is conveniently defined below as a "holding medium for constructed documents (its substantial holding area is the link information area 103b)". For reference, on the screen shown in FIG. 4, 92 is called a desktop window, 93 is called a document window, and 94 is called a message window.

Now, in the document construction device 10, if the user selects the link folder icon 91a, the document construction control section 102, which has recognized this through the input command decoding section 113, uses the work area control section 106 to select the link folder icon 91a from the main memory. 105, and based on the program registered in the document construction procedure registration unit 101, depending on the content of subsequent input commands by the same user, (A) documents based on registration of link information Construction processing (FIG. 3A step 1000).

(n) Transferring link information held in a certain link folder (more precisely, this is arranged as pointers) to another link folder (Step 2000 in A of Fig. 3)
).

(C) Deletion of link information (more precisely, the pointer array) held in a certain link folder (step 3000 in FIG. 3A).

(D) How link information is retained by link folders (
(step 4000 in FIG. 3A).

A predetermined process is executed for each mode.

Hereinafter, specific processing contents in each of these modes executed by the document construction control unit 102 will be listed in order.

First, the user's operation, for example, double-clicking the linked folder icon 91a with the mouse 112, or selecting the same linked folder icon 91a with the mouse 112 and pressing an appropriate key to open the window. If the document construction process of (A) above is commanded through (A step 1000 in FIG. 3), the document construction control section 102 recognizes this through the input command decoding section 113, and (^-1) executes the selected document construction process. If any link information is held (registered) in the link folder, the held information is read from the link information area 103b into the work area (step 1100 in FIG. 3A), and this is used as a registered file list. Display a window as appropriate (
FIG. 3A step 1200). Furthermore, if the selected link folder is unused and does not hold (register) any link information, it is displayed as an empty window (step 1200 in FIG. 3A).
). An example of the display screen of such a link folder window is shown in FIG. 5 for reference. In FIG. 5, when link information corresponding to five document files is registered in the link folder, the link folder window screen displays the file types (indicated by icons) of these link information. An example of displaying only "" and "file name" is shown. If the linked folder is unused, the window screen will be blank.

(A-2) At this point, "end the operation" such as closing the opened link folder window (for example, using the mouse 112, click "Close" in the window header commands illustrated in FIG. 5). When the user performs an operation to command (step 1300 in FIG. 3A), this fact is similarly recognized through the input command decoding unit 113, the opened link folder window is closed, and the monitor device 109 is initialized. In addition to controlling the screen, the link information currently held in the work area (more precisely, this is arranged as a pointer) is saved in the link information area 103b (Step 13 in FIG. 3A).
01).

(＾-3) Also, if the selected link folder is unused and the file list is requested to be transferred to a specific one of the file servers (if the desired file server cannot be specified), (An operation requesting the resource information management device 17 to transfer the file server list is performed in advance) is performed by the user (step 1310 in FIG. 3B).
, based on that knowledge, accesses the above-mentioned specific file server in which the desired document file is stored through the network control unit 114, and requests to transfer a file list of the document files stored in this file server. At the same time, the document file list transferred in response to this request is displayed on the desktop above (
FIG. 3B step 1311).

(A-4) At this point, without instructing the above-mentioned "end of operation", select a specific document file from the above-displayed document file list (for example, by clicking the file name in the list using the mouse 112). When the user performs a registration operation by transferring a file to a link folder (step 1320 in FIG. 3), the network control unit 1
14, requests to transfer the link information for the selected document file, and writes the transferred link information in the work area in response to this request (Step 1 in Figure 3B).
321). It should be noted that such processing by the document construction control unit 102 corresponds to the basic document construction operation of the document construction device 10 according to this embodiment, and the document construction control unit 102 further processes the above-mentioned specific document file by the user. Operation to register (B step 1320 in Figure 3)
Each time, as pointer processing, a pointer for pointing to the next registered document file is added to the link information written above (step 1322 in FIG. 3B) (A-5). ) Also, while the document file list is displayed, or the registered file list as shown in FIG.
12, after clicking a file name in the list, perform a key operation to specify "delete"),
If done by the user (Figure 3B Step 1)
330), and based on this recognition, delete the link information of the corresponding document file from the work area (Figure 3 B step 1331), delete the pointer related to the link information of the same document file, etc. to avoid conflicts. (B step 1332 in FIG. 3).

(^-6) Also, when the registered file list is displayed as shown in Figure 5 (from this point on, the link information held by the link folder is -U saved (see (A-2) above). ), it is assumed that the linked folder is selected again and its window is opened. If the user clicks, performs a key operation to designate "move," and then further designates the destination (step 1370 in FIG. 3), based on the user's recognition, within the work area,
The link information of the corresponding document file is replaced with the specified format (step 1370 in Figure 3, C), and as pointer processing, the instruction contents of each corresponding pointer are modified to avoid conflicts as described above. (Figure 3C
step 1370).

(A-7) Also, while the registered file list as shown in FIG. If the user specifies the auxiliary command (which is displayed in a part of the header of the window, and whose illustration is omitted in FIG. 5) (step 1370 in FIG.
) Based on this recognition, each document file corresponding to each link information held by the link folder is checked via the network control unit 114 in order to confirm whether or not it actually exists in the file server. An inquiry is made to the relevant file server (step 1351 in FIG. 3B), and if it is confirmed that all document files corresponding to the above link information exist, the total capacity of these document files is For example, if it is confirmed that even one of the document files corresponding to each link information does not exist, an appropriate error message is displayed to the user. (B step 135 in Figure 3)
1).

(A-1) Also, while the registered file list as shown in FIG. When the user specifies the auxiliary command (not shown in FIG. 5), it is displayed in a part of the header of the window as an auxiliary command.
70), based on this recognition, after confirming whether the user has specified the selection for "Document creation" item 11 (Step 1370 in Figure 3C), if the selection has not been specified, , for specific items of all link information held (registered) by the link folder, document (convert into text) and display as a list (C step 1370 in FIG. 3), and the same selection designation is made. (Although not shown, an appropriate window screen for inputting selection items is separately displayed), all link information held (registered) by the relevant link folder Only the selected items are documented (converted into text) and displayed in a list (step 1370 in FIG. 3).

(^-9) Also, while the registered file list as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, an operation (for example, using the mouse button If the user clicks on a file name in the list and then performs an appropriate key operation to specify "link information display" (step 1370 in Figure 3), the recognition , all items of link information registered for the specified document file are displayed in a predetermined manner (step 1371 in FIG. 3). An example of such a link information display screen is shown in FIG. 6 for reference. Incidentally, in this Figure 6, attribute requirements other than the file attributes defined earlier as link information (that is, requirements not maintained by the link folder) such as "last modified date", "last modified by", and "comment" are When display of link information is requested in this way, this information regarding the document file recorded in the file server is read and displayed through the network control unit 114.

(A-1o) Also, while the registered file list as shown in FIG. ``Folder'' or ``Book''
This is a type of file called ``Functional Design,'' for example, in FIG. , the user clicks on the file name in the list and then performs an appropriate key operation to specify "Show substructure," or double-clicks on the file name, etc.) (C step 138 in Figure 3)
0), based on this recognition, the lower structure information for the specified file is read from the corresponding file server through the network control unit 114, and its contents are appropriately displayed (step 1381 in FIG. 3). An example of the display screen for such lower-level structure information is also illustrated in FIG. 7 for reference. FIG. 7 shows an example in which, when the specified file is composed of five document files, the structural contents are further displayed by the above-mentioned "file type (indicated by icon)" and "file name". .

(A-11) Also, while the registered file list as shown in FIG. When clicked, the icon will be displayed as an auxiliary command in a part of the header of the window (not shown in FIG. 5). After also recognizing the "posting destination" that is separately specified through the specification operation, if the "posting destination" is specified as, for example, "desktop" (step 1391a in FIG. 3), the , access each storage location of the document files corresponding to all the link information held by the link folder in order (that is, in the order of the storage locations of the document files ranked according to the link information arranged by the pointer). , requests these storage destinations to transfer the substance files for each applicable document file, and sequentially transfers (copies) the substance files transferred in response to this request to the substance file area 103b (first process). Figure 3 C step 1392a)
. Note that the file transferred to the entity file area 103b in this way continues to be held in this area 103b unless specifically "deleted", and if the user performs an appropriate display request command operation, the file is transferred to the monitor device 109.
This is now visually displayed on the screen (document window 93) as one substantial document.

Also, if the above-specified "posting destination" is, for example, "printer" (step 1393a, C in Figure 3).
, further sends the substance file of each document file transferred to the substance file area 103b in the same manner as above to the print server 15 via the network control unit 114,
Each of these entity files is printed as one entity document through this print server 15 (step 1394a in FIG. 3C).

(A-12) Also, while the registered file list as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, an operation of specifying one or more specific document files and requesting transcription of the corresponding entity file is also possible. (For example, by using the mouse 112,
After clicking the file name etc. in the list, click "Post"
If the user performs an appropriate key operation to specify the
, after also recognizing the "posting destination" that is separately specified through the icon selection designation operation, etc., if this "posting destination" is specified as, for example, "desktop" (Fig. 3C
Step 1391b), through the network control unit 114, a predetermined access is made to the file server storing the specified document file based on the link information of the specified document file held by the link folder. Then, the file server is requested to transfer the entity file for the specified document file, and the entity file transferred in response to this request is transferred to the entity file area 103b.
Post (copy) to (C step 1392b in Figure 3)
. Note that the file transferred to the entity file area 103b in this way will continue to be held in this area 103b unless specifically "deleted", and if the user performs an appropriate display request command operation, the file will be transferred to the monitor device 109.
This is now visually displayed on the screen (document window 93) as one substantial document. In other words, this also makes it possible to "partially check a document."

Also, if the "posting destination" specified above is, for example, "printer", step 1393b (C in Figure 3) is executed.
, the entity file of the document file transferred to the entity file area 103b in the same manner as above is further sent to the print server 15 via the network control unit 114, and the entity file is printed through this print server 15 (the Figure 3C step 1394b).

Execute a series of processes such as In addition, the above (A-3)
In any case from (A-12) above, when the "end operation" operation, that is, the designation operation of the "close" command, is performed through the corresponding link folder window (see Figure 5), the above (A-12) is performed. The process shown in 2) is executed, and the link information held in the work area at that point (more precisely, the pointer array) is saved in the link information area 103b (FIG. 3A).
Step 1301). Also, at this time, if this saved link information was registered for a previously unused link folder, the document name for the newly constructed document will be changed through the link folder window. It shall be entered in advance.

Furthermore, assuming that the above document construction process has already been executed in some way, the user may select, for example, the link folder icon 91a mentioned above with the mouse 112, and then press an appropriate key to specify "post". If the above link information transcription process (B) is commanded through an operation such as pressing the button (step A 2000 in FIG. 3), the document construction control unit 102 recognizes this through the input command decoding unit 113, and executes (B). -1) Transfer (copy) all the link information held by the specified link folder to the position specified by the user as a firewood link folder (step 2100 in FIG. 3A).

Execute processing such as That is, when attempting to construct a new document by recombining only a part of a certain document file, the original document can be easily copied by the link information transfer process by the document construction control unit 10. Therefore, from now on, start the link folder to which this link information has been copied (Figure 3 A Step 1)
000), the operation related to the above (A-3) (see step 1310 in FIG. 3 B), or the operation related to the above (^-4) (see step 1320 in FIG. 3 B), or the operation related to the above (^-5) ) (see step 1330 in FIG. 3 B), or the operation related to (^-B) above (see step 134 in FIG. 3 B), etc., as necessary. The desired document construction is also very elegant.

Similarly, on the premise that the document construction process described above has already been executed in some way, the user's link folder icon 91. After selecting a (link information has already been registered) with the mouse 112,
Assuming that the link information deletion process (C) above is commanded through an operation such as pressing an appropriate key to specify "delete" (step 3000 in FIG. 3A), the document construction control unit 102 This fact is recognized through the command decoding unit 113, and (C-1) all link information held by the specified link folder is deleted (step 3100 in FIG. 3A).

Execute processing such as In this way, documents that are no longer needed can be deleted through a very simple operation.

Furthermore, the link information retention mode (D) described above ( Registration mode) If a parameter change etc. is commanded (step 4000 in C of FIG. 3), the document construction control unit 102 recognizes this through the input command decoding unit 113, and Parameters related to the link information retention mode set at that time are stored in the parameter area of the same link folder (not particularly shown, but added to each link folder in advance, and this is stored together with the link folder in the link information area 103a. ) into the work area (C step 100 in Figure 3), and its contents are displayed on the monitor device 10 as a "link folder property sheet".
9 (step 4200 in FIG. 3).

An example of the display screen of such a link folder property sheet is shown in FIG. 8 for reference. Incidentally, in the example shown in Figure 8, the above parameters are: (1) If there is link information with the same file name, the ff! Whether or not to allow duplicates.

(2) Whether or not to sort each registered link information by, for example, file name.

(3) Whether the document file to be registered as a component of a newly constructed document is an arbitrarily specified version file or the latest version file.

The system mainly employs the following, and allows the user to make arbitrary selections for each of these items. In the above description, as shown in FIG. 8 as an example of the settings, (1) File names should not be duplicated.

(2) Do not sort.

(3) Adopt the latest version.

Parameter settings such as (assuming this is the standard value)
was assumed.

(D-2) With the linked folder property sheet displayed in this way, closing it (for example, using the mouse 112 to click "Finish" in the sheet header commands illustrated in FIG. 8) If done by the user (FIG. 3C step 4300)
, similarly recognizes this through the input command decoding unit 113,
Close the link folder property sheet, control the monitor device 109 to the original screen, and save the parameter settings currently held in the work area to the parameter area of the link folder (Step C in Figure 3). 4301).

(O-a) Also, when the user selects and changes any of the parameters while the linked folder property sheet is displayed (Step 4400 in Figure 3), the recognition Then, the parameter settings are changed according to the changed selection (step 4401 in FIG. 3), and the display contents of the sheet are changed according to the changed settings (step 4401 in FIG. 3).
FIG. 3A step 4200).

Execute processing such as Furthermore, if the save is performed as the process in (D-2) above after changing the parameters in (D-3) above, the way in which the above link information is retained by the link folder will also be changed based on this setting change. It shall be changed according to the parameter contents. Therefore, for example, in the example shown in Figure 8, if the setting is changed from "latest version" to "specified version",
Document files with old version numbers attached as file attributes can also be appropriately employed as constituent elements of newly constructed documents.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the structure of a constructed document that is filed in the file section 103 by the document construction device 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, in this document construction device 10, for example, through the process (A-11) (see step 1390a and step 1391a in FIG. 3C),
Substantive documents (substantive files) are also stored in the file section 103.
Even if it is registered in , the file of this entity document and
The file of the virtual construction document based on the pointer array of the link information is stored in a different area consisting of a different directory, for example.

In this document construction device 10, as described above, all actual processing related to document construction is performed through the link folder stored in the link information area 103a as a storage medium for the pointer array file of the link information. For example, the document shown as document 1 (link folder-1) in FIG. 9 is registered and stored in the link information area 103a in advance, and based on this document 1, the document shown in FIG. Assuming that a new document is to be constructed as Document 2 (Link Folder-2), (1) The contents of Link Folder-1 are transferred to Link Folder-2.
(see step 2000 in FIG. 3).

(2) Start up the link folder-2 anew (see step 2000 in FIG. 3).

(3) Based on the opened link folder window,
Delete file b (see step 1330 in FIG. 3).

(4) Newly register document files e and f and insert them between existing files a and C (see steps 1310, 1320, and 1340 in FIG. 3B).

(5) Close the relevant link folder window (3rd
(See Figure A step 1300).

Through such simple operations, the desired document, that is, document 2 (link folder) in FIG.
The document shown as 2) is constructed in the manner shown in the figure. Furthermore, since this document construction process itself does not involve any manipulation of the entity files, unnecessary duplication of entity files can be effectively avoided when storing and managing the constructed documents. However, if a document as a substantive file (substantive document) is required, simply issue the substantive file transcription command as described above.
In other words, (8) With the linked folder window open, specify, for example, "transcribe all files" (3rd step).
(See step 1390a in Figure C).

By simply adding this operation, the desired entity document 2 can be filed in the other entity file area 103b in the manner shown in FIG. 9.

As described above, the actual document filed in this way is displayed on the monitor screen or printed through the print server 15 in accordance with the user's instructions.

By the way, in this embodiment, as described above, even when printing a substantive document, the substantive file area 103b
After transcribing all or a part of the file, it is sent to the print server 15, etc. However, in addition, for example, especially when printing, ◆The actual file to be transcribed is stored. It is directly transferred from the optical file server to the print server 15 or the like.

Such control may be performed through the document construction control section 102 and the network control section 114.

According to this, most of the information handled by the document construction device itself is only link information, so
The possibility of unnecessary duplicate storage of actual files is further reduced, and the file section 103
The capacity burden will be further reduced.

In addition, for convenience of explanation, in the same example, the details of a desirable embodiment as a document construction device applied to a workstation such as JStar and its distributed file/distributed processing system are shown. However, the document construction device according to the present invention is not limited to these workstations or these systems, but can also be applied to a distributed file system configured by a so-called personal computer LAN (Local Area Network), etc. Needless to say, it can bring about a number of desirable effects. In short, whether configured as hardware or software, this document construction device (a) performs predetermined instruction operations through an appropriate input device, for example, a specific document creation device; A control means for reading a file list of existing document files from each file server connected to a network based on the above, and visually displaying the read file list on a monitor screen of the document creation device.

(b) In response to a predetermined instruction operation of the document file displayed as this file list through the document creation device, the specified document file and its storage destination are recognized, and the recognized document file storage destination is control means for requesting the transfer of information indicating file attributes of the document file, that is, link information;

(C) A control means for automatically registering link information transferred in response to this request in a predetermined storage area in a predetermined order.

Even if it is, it is sufficient as long as it has at least the following. In addition, if it is desired to display or print out the constructed document as a substantive document, (d) additionally (d) display the corresponding document files based on all the link information registered above, as necessary. A control means for displaying a list of information indicating at least file names on the monitor screen in the order in which they are registered or in an arbitrarily specified arrangement order.

(0) In response to a predetermined instruction operation for this list of information, the specified document file and its storage destination are recognized, and the information regarding the recognized document file is sent to the recognized document file storage destination. A control means for requesting transfer of the actual file.

(“) A control means that automatically transfers the entity file transferred in response to this request to a predetermined storage area in accordance with the arrangement order of the link information ordered in the predetermined order.

All you have to do is make it possible. As a result, the actual file can be easily and efficiently reproduced as a newly constructed document without bothering the user.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to virtually construct a new document based on distributed document files using only information (link information) indicating the file attributes of these document files. By doing so, it is possible to at least avoid unnecessary duplicate storage of large document files (document data, i.e., actual files), and the work involved in document construction itself can be reduced. It can be made very simple.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of a document construction device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a structure example of link information (file attribute information) handled in this embodiment. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the document construction device of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a display screen of the monitor device used in the document construction device of the embodiment, and FIG.
The figure is a schematic diagram showing an example of the link folder window displayed on this monitor device, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of link information displayed on the monitor device, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of link information displayed on the monitor device. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a hierarchical structure file displayed. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a link folder property sheet displayed on the monitor device. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a linked folder property sheet displayed on the monitor device. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the constructed document to be constructed, and FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overview of a distributed processing system. 10. Document construction device, 101. Document construction procedure registration unit, 102. ,,Document Construction Control Unit, 10310.
File section 104 , File control section 105
, , Main memory, 106. ,, work area control section, 10
7. Floppy disk device, 10801. Floppy control unit, 109, Monitor device, 110,
, display control section, 111 , , keyboard, 112 , .
, mouse, 113. ,,input command decoding section 114, .
Network control unit, 11.12.21.22 ,,
File server, 13.14.23.24 , Document creation device, 15.25 , Print server, 16.
26., Communication server, 17.27., Resource information management device. Figure 2 Figure 5

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) In a distributed file system in which multiple document files are distributed and stored in multiple file storage devices or document creation devices connected via a network,
A document construction device in a distributed file system that constructs a document having a new structure based on one or more document files arbitrarily designated among the plurality of document files, the document construction device comprising: A first method for reading a file list of existing document files from each file storage device or document creation device connected to the network based on the instruction operation of the device, and visually displaying the read file list on an appropriate monitor device. control means and the document files displayed as this file list.
In response to a predetermined instruction operation through the input device, the designated document file and its storage destination are recognized, and a request is made to the recognized document file storage destination to transfer information indicating the file attributes of the document file. and a third control means that automatically registers information indicating the file attributes transferred in response to the request in a predetermined storage area in a predetermined order, A document construction device in a distributed file system that newly constructs a virtual document structure based on a combination of information indicating file attributes. (2) The information indicating the file attributes includes information indicating the file name of the corresponding document file, information indicating the file format of the document file, information indicating the storage destination of the document file, and information indicating the storage location of the document file. The document construction device in a distributed file system according to claim 1, comprising information indicating a version number. (3) The document construction device, based on the information indicating all the registered file attributes, stores information indicating at least the file name of each corresponding document file in the order of registration or in the order of arrangement specified through the input device. , a fourth control means for displaying a list on the monitor device, and recognizing the designated document file and its storage location in response to a predetermined instruction operation of the displayed information through the input generation device; a fifth control means for requesting the recognized document file storage destination to transfer an entity file that is document data of the document file; The system further comprises a sixth control means for automatically transcribing the entity file to a predetermined storage area in accordance with the arrangement order of information indicating the ordered file attributes, and the substantive file automatically transcribed by the sixth control means, The document construction device in a distributed file system according to claim 2, wherein the document construction device outputs to the monitor device, the printing device, or another device.