JP2005157768A - Method for storing electronic file, implementation device, and processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To store the same electronic files in the form of one electronic file, thus saving storage capacity, and making the files appear to be stored in a directory structure specified by each user. <P>SOLUTION: This method includes a step for reading, from a user-specified content storage part in a storage means, directory information showing the structure of a directory specified by each user; a step for reading, from the user-specified content storage part in the storage means, electric file storage location directory information showing the storage location within an electronic file storage device of the electronic file in the directory; a step for creating image information that shows the directory structure of the electronic file according to the directory information and the electronic file storage location directory information read; a step for receiving from each user's terminal device an instruction to store the electronic file into the directory shown by the image information; and a step for creating electronic file storage location directory information that shows the same electronic file as that which is instructed to be stored among electronic files within the electronic file storage device and for storing this information in the user-specified content storage part within the storage means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic file management technique for storing an electronic file shared by a plurality of users.

  Conventionally, an electronic file storage system shared by a plurality of users treats them as completely different electronic files even if they are instructed to store the same electronic file by a plurality of users. It was common to store several as they were.

  In recent years, information transmission by electronic mail has become common, and when a sender delivers an electronic mail to a plurality of recipients, each of the plurality of recipients has stored an electronic mail in an electronic file storage system. In this case, the electronic file storage system stores a plurality of electronic files having exactly the same contents, and the capacity of the storage device is wasted.

  As for the storage of e-mails, a method of storing only one identical e-mail has been devised (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this method, the electronic file to be stored is limited to e-mails. In addition, the stored electronic files could not be classified into an arbitrary directory structure specified by the user.

JP 2002-44120 A

  As described above, in the conventional electronic file storage system, when storing electronic files such as e-mails or data, a plurality of electronic files having exactly the same contents are stored, so the capacity of the storage device is wasted. Was.

  In such a case, by using the same directory structure for a plurality of users who jointly use the electronic file stored in the electronic file storage system, by predetermining the directory to be stored for each electronic file, Although it is possible to prevent multiple electronic files with the same content from being stored, each user wants to manage the electronic files by classifying them so that they exist in an arbitrary directory structure specified by the user. There is a demand, and if the same directory structure is used by a plurality of users, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to manage electronic files according to the users.

  Further, when only one identical e-mail is stored by the conventional technology as described above, there is a problem that the electronic file to be stored is limited to e-mail. Could not be classified as if they existed in an arbitrary directory structure specified by the user.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above problem, and when a plurality of users are instructed to save the same electronic file, the entity is saved as one electronic file to reduce the capacity of the storage device, and each It is intended to provide a technique that can make a user appear to be stored in a directory structure designated by each user.

  The present invention relates to an electronic file storage device for storing an electronic file shared by a plurality of users, and an electronic file indicating a storage location in the electronic file storage device of the same electronic file as the electronic file for which the storage instruction has been issued. The file storage destination directory information represents an electronic file in the directory specified by the user.

  In the electronic file storage device of the present invention (a computer, an information processing device, or a program or an object for performing such processing), information on a directory structure arbitrarily designated by each user, Information indicating where the file is specified to be stored in the directory structure is stored in the user instruction content storage unit in the storage means as directory information and electronic file storage destination directory information, respectively, and stored in the electronic file storage device. When an instruction to display the stored electronic file is received from the user's terminal device, the directory information and the electronic file storage destination directory information are read out from the user instruction content storage unit in the storage means and then read out. Electronic directory information and electronic file storage directory information Create an image information indicating a directory structure Airu transmits to the user of the terminal device.

  Based on the directory structure displayed by the transmitted image information, an electronic file is operated on the user terminal device, and an instruction to save the electronic file is issued from the user terminal device to the electronic file storage device. The electronic file storage device of the present invention receives the electronic file storage instruction from the user's terminal device, and then stores the same electronic file in the electronic file storage device for which the storage instruction has been issued. Find out if it is.

  As a result, when the same electronic file is not stored in the electronic file storage device, the electronic file is stored in the storage means in the electronic file storage device, and the stored electronic file is stored in the electronic file storage device. The electronic file storage destination directory information indicating the storage destination is generated. If the same electronic file has already been saved, the new electronic file is not saved, but the saved electronic file indicating the save destination in the electronic file saving device is stored. Generate destination directory information.

  In this way, in the present invention, in an electronic file storage device that stores electronic files such as e-mails shared by a plurality of users, when a plurality of users are instructed to store the same electronic file, the user Instead of storing multiple identical electronic files each time, the entity is stored as one electronic file, and for each user, the electronic file is stored in the directory structure designated by each user. You can make it look like you are. For this reason, with respect to the same electronic file that is instructed to be stored by a plurality of users, only one entity can be stored to reduce the amount of storage device used in the electronic file storage system.

  According to the present invention, the electronic file in the directory designated by the user is obtained by the electronic file storage destination directory information indicating the storage destination in the electronic file storage device of the same electronic file as the electronic file instructed to be stored. Since it is expressed, when a plurality of users are instructed to save the same electronic file, the entity is saved as one electronic file to reduce the capacity of the storage device, and for each user, It can appear to be stored in the directory structure specified by each user.

  Hereinafter, an electronic file storage device according to an embodiment that stores an electronic file shared by a plurality of users will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an electronic file storage device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic file storage device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a display content creation unit 100, a user instruction content reception unit 120, and a file input / output unit 140.

  The display content creation unit 100 stores directory information indicating a directory structure designated by a user and electronic file storage destination directory information indicating a storage destination of the electronic file in the directory in the electronic file storage device 10 in a memory. Image information indicating the directory structure of the electronic file is created according to the read directory information and electronic file storage destination directory information, and the terminal 200 of the user 1 or the terminal of the user 2 is created. 300 is a processing unit that transmits to 300.

  The user instruction content receiving unit 120 is a processing unit that receives an instruction to change the directory structure by the user or an instruction for an electronic file storage destination directory, and stores the content specified by the user in the user instruction content storage unit 130. And receiving an instruction to save the electronic file in the directory indicated by the image information from the user's terminal device, and the same electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10 as the electronic file for which the saving instruction has been issued. This is a processing unit that generates electronic file storage destination directory information indicating an electronic file and stores it in the user instruction content storage unit 130 in the memory.

  The file input / output unit 140 is a processing unit that performs input / output to / from the electronic file stored in the file storage unit 110, and whether the basic information including the type, size, creation date, and update date of the electronic file is the same. It is a processing unit that checks whether or not the electronic file for which the storage instruction has been issued and the electronic file stored in the file storage unit 110 in the electronic file storage device 10 are the same.

  A program for causing the electronic file storage device 10 to function as the display content creation unit 100, the user instruction content reception unit 120, and the file input / output unit 140 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and stored on a magnetic disk or the like. Thereafter, it is assumed that the program is loaded into the memory and executed. The recording medium for recording the program may be a recording medium other than the CD-ROM. The program may be used by installing it from the recording medium into the information processing apparatus, or the program may be used by accessing the recording medium through a network.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic file storage device 10 includes a display content creation unit 100, a file storage unit 110, a user instruction content reception unit 120, a user instruction content storage unit 130, and a file input / output unit 140. The electronic file storage device 10 is connected to the terminal 1 of the user 1 and the terminal 300 of the user 2, and displays a unique directory structure designated by the user.

  The user instruction content receiving unit 120 receives a directory structure change instruction and an electronic file storage directory instruction by the user. The user instruction content receiving unit 120 stores the content specified by the user in the user instruction content storage unit 130.

  The display content creation unit 100 inputs information indicating the contents of the directory designated by each user from the user instruction content storage unit 130, and the user enters the terminal 200 of the user 1 or the terminal 300 of the user 2. Generate screen information to display the directory structure as specified and send it to each terminal device.

  When the terminal 200 of the user 1 is instructed to refer to the electronic file 241 (electronic file D), the file input / output unit 140 accepts the request, extracts the electronic file D from the file storage unit 110, and the user 1 To the terminal 200.

  Further, when the terminal 300 of the user 2 is instructed to store the electronic file 331 (electronic file C) in the directory 330, the information that the electronic file 331 is stored in the directory 330 is the user instruction content receiving unit. The electronic file 331 is stored in the file storage unit 110 via the file input / output unit 140.

  Here, it is assumed that the electronic file 232 (electronic file B) and the electronic file 321 (electronic file B) are exactly the same electronic file, and the electronic file 321 is stored in the directory 320 from the terminal 300 of the user 2. Is instructed to store the electronic file 321 in the directory 320, the information is stored in the user instruction content storage unit 130 via the user instruction content receiving unit 120. However, regarding the electronic file 321 (electronic file B), the file input / output unit 140 detects that the same electronic file is already stored in the file storage unit 110, and the electronic file 321 (electronic file B) is stored in the file. No new saving is performed for the unit 110.

  As a result, when a plurality of users are instructed to save the exact same electronic file, it is saved as one electronic file to reduce the capacity of the storage device, and for each user, each user Can be made to appear as if it is stored in the specified directory structure.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed example of information stored in the user instruction content storage unit 130 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the user instruction content storage unit 130 includes user 1 directory information 131, user 2 directory information 132, user 1 electronic file storage directory information 136, and user 2 electronic file. Storage destination directory information 137 is stored.

  In the directory information shown in FIG. 2, the directory hierarchy and the display position when creating the screen information are represented by the position in the table storage area where the name of each directory specified by the user is located. In FIG. 2, the directory b exists in the hierarchy below the directory a, and the directories c and d exist in the hierarchy below the directory b, and display is performed with the positional relationship as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the directory information is represented in a table format, but the directory information may be a numeric string or a character string having the same information.

  Further, the electronic file storage destination directory information in FIG. 2 indicates which electronic file is stored in the electronic file storage device 10 in each directory designated by the user, and the electronic file storage destination directory information. In 136, two files in the directory c designated by the user 1 are stored as electronic files A and B in the electronic file storage device 10, and a file in the directory d is stored as an electronic file D. ing. In FIG. 2, the electronic file storage destination directory information is shown in a table format, but the electronic file storage destination directory information may be a numeric string or a character string having similar information.

  When displaying the screen on the terminal 200 of the user 1, the display content creation unit 100 reads the directory information 131 of the user 1 and the electronic file storage destination directory information 136 of the user 1 from the user instruction content storage unit 130. Create screen information with.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the display content creation unit 100 of the present embodiment. When creating a screen to be displayed on the terminal 200 of the user 1, it is determined in step 301 whether or not the directory information 131 of the user 1 exists. If not, an error screen is created in step 307. Thereafter, the screen is displayed in step 306 and the process is terminated.

  If the directory information 131 of the user 1 exists in step 301, the user instruction content storage unit 130 provided in the memory of the electronic file storage device 10 stores the directory information 131 of the user 1 in step 302. Enter from. Here, the user instruction content storage unit 130 may be provided in other storage means such as a magnetic disk device.

  Next, at step 303, it is determined whether or not the electronic file storage destination directory information 136 of the user 1 exists, and if not, the process proceeds to step 307. If the electronic file storage directory information 136 of the user 1 exists, in step 304, the electronic file storage directory information 136 of the user 1 is input from the user instruction content storage unit 130 in the memory.

  In step 305, screen information is created by using the input directory information 131 of the user 1 and the electronic file storage destination directory information 136 of the user 1. That is, like the directory information 131, after generating image information in which the directory b exists in the lower layer of the directory a and the directories c and d exist in the lower layer of the directory b, according to the electronic file storage destination directory information 136, The image information of the electronic files A and B in the directory c and the electronic file D in the directory d are added to create the directory structure of the user 1. As will be described later, if a different file name is used for each user, the file name specified by the user is obtained by referring to the file storage status management table, and then the file name in the image information A process of changing A, B, D, etc. to the file name designated by the user is performed.

  In step 306, the created screen information is transmitted to the terminal 1 of the user 1, and the user 1 terminal is instructed to output the screen, and the process is terminated.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the file storage status management table 141 used by the file input / output unit 140 of this embodiment. In the example of FIG. 4, the user 1 has instructed saving of the electronic files A, B, and D, and the user 2 has instructed saving of the electronic files B and C. That is, when the file name and the access date exist in the user 1 column, it indicates that the user 1 instructs to save the file.

  In the basic information of FIG. 4, the type indicates the type of the electronic file such as a text file or a word processor application file, the size indicates the size of the electronic file, the creation date indicates the date when the electronic file was created, The update date represents the date when the electronic file was updated, and the storage position represents position information such as a directory path name in the file storage unit 110 of the electronic file.

  When the file input / output unit 140 is instructed to save the electronic file by the user, the file input / output unit 140 refers to the file storage status management table 141 to check whether the same electronic file has already been saved. Whether or not the same electronic file is saved depends on whether or not the various information of the file to be saved will match all the information from the type to the update date in the basic information column of the file storage status management table 141. Can be judged. When the same electronic file is stored, the electronic file is not newly stored, but the file name and the access date are recorded in the corresponding columns of the file storage status management table 141.

  On the other hand, when the user instructs to delete the electronic file, the file name and access date recorded in the corresponding column of the file storage status management table 141 are deleted. After erasing the file name and access date, if all the file names and access dates in the line are in an erased state, the electronic file stored in the file storage unit 110 is erased and the file storage status management is performed. The corresponding basic information in Table 141 is also deleted.

  In the file storage status management table 141, the reason why the file name and the access date are separated from the basic information and recorded in the column for each user is that the user arbitrarily changes the name even for the same electronic file. Because there is. This is also because the access date when the file was last referenced differs for each user.

  In this way, by managing the file name and access date for each user, it is possible to treat electronic files that differ only in file name as the same, and to store the entity as a single electronic file. In addition, the access date can be managed for each user. As a result, the user does not have to be aware that the electronic file stored by the user is shared with other users.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of access processing to an electronic file according to this embodiment. In step 501, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 checks whether an instruction to access an electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10 is received from the terminal 200 of the user 1 or the terminal 300 of the user 2 via the network. If an access instruction for the electronic file has been received, the process proceeds to step 502.

  In step 502, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 checks whether or not the received access instruction includes an instruction to refer to an electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10, and if the access instruction is an instruction to refer to an electronic file. In step S503, the directory path of the reference destination and the file name of the electronic file to be referred received from the user terminal device together with the reference instruction are stored in the memory. Here, the directory path and file name received from the terminal device of the user are specified by the user with reference to the image information created by the display content creation unit 100, and are stored in the electronic file storage device 10. Even the instructions for the same electronic file may be different for each user. The same applies to processing such as the following save instruction.

  In step 503, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 reads out the directory name of the lowest hierarchy from the directory path information of the reference destination received from the terminal device of the user together with the reference instruction, and then the electronic file of the user With reference to the storage destination directory information, the name of the electronic file stored in the read directory name column is read. Then, referring to the file storage status management table 141 in the memory, the file name stored in the column of the user who transmitted the reference instruction in the record in which the read electronic file name is stored at the head However, it searches for a file that matches the file name of the electronic file to be referred received from the user's terminal device together with the reference instruction. Further, the directory path in the file storage unit 110 stored in the storage position column in the basic information of the retrieved record is read. Here, when the file storage unit 110 is configured by a single directory having no hierarchy, reading of the directory path from the storage position in the basic information may be omitted.

  In step 504, the file input / output unit 140 reads the data of the electronic file to be referenced from the file storage unit 110 based on the electronic file name stored at the beginning of the searched record and the information of the read directory path. After that, the data is transmitted to the terminal device of the user who is the reference instruction source. Then, the current date is stored in the access date in the column of the user who made the reference instruction for the retrieved record, and the information on the access date by the user is updated.

  In step 505, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 checks whether or not the received access instruction includes an instruction to save the electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10, and the access instruction is an instruction to save the electronic file. In this case, basic information indicating the save destination directory path received from the user's terminal device together with the save instruction, the file name of the save target electronic file, the type, size, creation date, and update date of the save target electronic file. Then, the electronic file data is stored in the memory, and the process proceeds to step 506.

  In step 506, the file input / output unit 140 refers to the file storage status management table 141 in the memory, and as basic information of each electronic file stored in the file storage unit 110, its type, size, creation date, and update date Is read.

  In step 507, the file input / output unit 140 compares the basic information received from the user's terminal device together with the save instruction and the basic information read in step 506. If the basic information is the same, It is determined that the electronic file instructed to be stored is the same as the electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10. Here, the electronic file data received from the user terminal device together with the storage instruction is compared with the electronic file data in the electronic file storage device 10 determined to have the same basic information. When the file data is the same, the electronic file instructed to be stored may be determined to be the same as the electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10.

  As a result of the processing in step 507, if it is determined that the same electronic file as the electronic file instructed to be stored is not stored in the file storage unit 110 in the electronic file storage device 10, the process proceeds to step 508. The electronic file data received from the user's terminal device together with the storage instruction is stored in the file storage unit 110 in the electronic file storage device 10. At this time, the file names are named so that no duplication occurs in the file storage unit 110.

  In step 509, the file input / output unit 140 generates a record for storing the information of the stored electronic file in the file storage status management table 141 and then stores the name of the electronic file named when the file is stored in the file storage unit 110. The basic information received from the user terminal device together with the storage instruction is stored in the generated record. Then, as information corresponding to the identification information of the user who issued the save instruction, the file name received from the user's terminal device together with the save instruction in the column of the user who issued the save instruction of the generated record Store the current date as the access date.

  If it is determined as a result of the processing in step 507 that the same electronic file as the electronic file instructed to be stored is stored in the file storage unit 110 in the electronic file storage device 10, the process proceeds to step 510. The record storing the information of the electronic file determined to be the same is searched from the file storage status management table 141, and the information of the searched record is used as the information corresponding to the identification information of the user who made the save instruction. The file name received from the user's terminal device is stored together with the save instruction in the column of the user who has given the save instruction, and the current date is stored as the access date. Here, the file name and the access date are used as information for identifying the user who issued the save instruction, but other information may be used.

  In step 511, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 reads out the directory name of the lowest hierarchy from the directory path information of the storage destination received from the user terminal device together with the storage instruction, and then stores the electronic file storage destination directory information. In the column of the read directory name, the electronic file name in the electronic file storage device 10 of the stored electronic file or the already stored electronic file is stored.

  In step 512, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 checks whether or not the received access instruction includes an electronic file name change instruction in the electronic file storage device 10, and the access instruction is an electronic file name change instruction. If there is, the directory path of the change destination and the file name before and after the change received from the user terminal device together with the name change instruction are stored in the memory, and the process proceeds to step 513.

  In step 513, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 reads out the directory name of the lowest hierarchy from the directory path information of the change destination received from the terminal device of the user together with the name change instruction, and then the electronic instruction of the user. With reference to the file storage destination directory information, the name of the electronic file stored in the read directory name column is read. Then, referring to the file storage status management table 141 in the memory, the file stored in the column of the user who transmitted the name change instruction in the record in which the read electronic file name is stored at the head A file whose name matches the file name before change received from the terminal device of the user together with the name change instruction is searched. Thereafter, the file name stored in the column of the user who transmitted the name change instruction of the retrieved record is changed to the changed file name received from the user terminal device together with the name change instruction.

  In step 514, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 checks whether or not the received access instruction includes an access date acquisition instruction for the electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10, and the access instruction acquires the access date of the electronic file. If it is an instruction, the directory name of the acquisition destination received from the user's terminal device and the file name of the electronic file to be acquired are stored in the memory together with the access date acquisition instruction, and the process proceeds to step 515.

  In step 515, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 reads out the directory name of the lowest hierarchy from the directory path information of the acquisition destination received from the terminal device of the user together with the access date acquisition instruction. With reference to the electronic file storage destination directory information, the name of the electronic file stored in the read directory name column is read. Then, referring to the file storage status management table 141 in the memory, the read electronic file name is stored in the column of the user who transmitted the access date acquisition instruction in the record stored at the head. After searching for a file whose name matches the file name of the electronic file to be acquired received from the terminal device of the user together with the access date acquisition instruction, the access date acquisition instruction of the searched record is transmitted. The access date stored in the user column is read.

  In step 516, the read access date information is transmitted to the terminal device of the user who is the access date acquisition instruction source.

  In step 517, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 checks whether or not the received access instruction includes an instruction to delete the electronic file in the electronic file storage device 10, and if the access instruction is an instruction to delete the electronic file. Then, the deletion destination directory path and the file name of the electronic file to be deleted received from the user terminal device together with the deletion instruction are stored in the memory, and the process proceeds to step 518.

  In step 518, the user instruction content receiving unit 120 reads out the directory name of the lowest hierarchy from the deletion destination directory path information received from the user terminal device together with the deletion instruction, and then the electronic file of the user With reference to the storage destination directory information, the name of the electronic file stored in the read directory name column is read. Then, referring to the file storage status management table 141 in the memory, the file name stored in the column of the user who sent the deletion instruction in the record in which the read electronic file name is stored at the head However, it searches for a file that matches the file name of the electronic file to be deleted received from the terminal device of the user together with the deletion instruction. Thereafter, the file name and access date stored in the column of the user who sent the deletion instruction of the retrieved record are deleted, and stored in the directory name column of the electronic file storage destination directory information Of the electronic file names, the electronic file names that match those stored at the beginning of the retrieved record are deleted.

  In step 519, the file input / output unit 140 checks whether the file name and the access date are stored in the other user column in the retrieved record, and the file name is extracted from all the user columns of the record. If the access date has been deleted, the process proceeds to step 520.

  In step 520, the file input / output unit 140 deletes the electronic file corresponding to the retrieved record from the file storage unit 110 provided in the magnetic disk device in the electronic file storage device 10.

  In the present embodiment, the electronic file storage device 10 may be connected to a network as NAS (Network Attached Storage).

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example when the electronic file storage device 10 of the present embodiment is connected to a network as a NAS. The NAS device 50 is connected to the terminal 1 of the user 1 and the terminal 300 of the user 2 via a network. The NAS device 50 includes the NAS control unit 60 and the electronic file storage device 10 according to the present embodiment. ing.

  As described above, according to the electronic file storage device of the present embodiment, the electronic file storage destination directory information indicating the storage destination in the electronic file storage device of the same electronic file as the electronic file instructed to be stored, Since it represents an electronic file in a directory specified by the user, when multiple users are instructed to save the exact same electronic file, the entity saves it as a single electronic file to save the capacity of the storage device. At the same time, it is possible for each user to appear to be stored in the directory structure designated by each user.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the electronic file storage apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detailed example of the information preserve | saved in the user instruction | indication content preservation | save part 130 of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the display content preparation part 100 of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the file storage condition management table 141 which the file input / output part 140 of this embodiment uses. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the access process to the electronic file of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example at the time of connecting the electronic file storage apparatus 10 of this embodiment to a network as NAS.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic file storage apparatus, 110 ... File storage part, 130 ... User instruction content storage part, 200 ... User's 1 terminal, 210, 220, 230, and 240 ... Directory, 231, 232, and 241 ... Electronic file, 300 User 2's terminal, 310, 320 and 330 ... directory, 321 and 331 ... electronic file, 100 ... display content creation unit, 120 ... user instruction content reception unit, 140 ... file input / output unit, 131 and 132 ... directory Information, 136 and 137... Electronic file storage destination directory information, 50... NAS device, 60... NAS control unit.

Claims (10)

In an electronic file storage method for storing an electronic file shared by multiple users,
Reading out directory information indicating the structure of the directory designated by the user from the user instruction content storage unit in the storage means, and storing an electronic file indicating a storage destination of the electronic file in the directory in the electronic file storage device Reading destination directory information from a user instruction content storage unit in the storage means; creating image information indicating a directory structure of an electronic file according to the read directory information and electronic file storage destination directory information;
A step of receiving an instruction to save an electronic file in a directory indicated by the image information from a user's terminal device, and the same electronic file as the electronic file in which the saving instruction has been issued among the electronic files in the electronic file storage device And storing the electronic file storage destination directory information indicating the information in a user instruction content storage unit in the storage means.   When the same electronic file as the electronic file instructed to be stored is not stored in the electronic file storage device, the electronic file is stored in the storage means in the electronic file storage device, and the stored electronic file 2. The electronic file storage method according to claim 1, wherein electronic file storage directory information indicating a storage destination in the electronic file storage device is generated.   In the electronic file in the electronic file storage device, when there is no electronic file having the same basic information including the type, size, creation date, and update date of the electronic file, the same electronic file as the one in which the storage instruction has been issued 3. The electronic file storage method according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the electronic file does not exist in the electronic file storage device.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the contents of the electronic file are the same, it is determined that the electronic file instructed to be stored and the electronic file in the electronic file storage device are the same. 2. An electronic file storage method described in item 1.   When the same electronic file as the electronic file instructed to be stored is stored in the electronic file storage device, information corresponding to the identification information of the user who has instructed the storage is stored in the file 5. The electronic file storage destination directory information indicating the storage destination of the electronic file stored in the management table and stored in the electronic file storage device is generated. The electronic file storage method described in item 1.   When the file name of the electronic file for which the save instruction has been issued is stored for each user in the file storage status management table in the storage means, and a request for changing the file name of the electronic file is made from the terminal device of the user 6. The electronic file storage method according to claim 1, wherein a file name corresponding to the identification information of the user is changed.   When the access date of the electronic file for which the save instruction has been issued is stored for each user in the file storage status management table in the storage means, and the access date of the electronic file is requested from the user's terminal device 7. The electronic file storage method according to claim 1, wherein an access date corresponding to the identification information of the user is transmitted to the terminal device of the user.   When an instruction to delete an electronic file is received from a user terminal device, the information corresponding to the identification information of the user is deleted from the file storage status management table in the storage means, and the identification information of the user of the electronic file The electronic file is deleted from the storage means in the electronic file storage device when all the information corresponding to is deleted from the file storage status management table. The electronic file storage method described in 1. In an electronic file storage device that stores an electronic file shared by multiple users,
Directory information indicating the structure of the directory designated by the user and electronic file storage destination directory information indicating the storage destination of the electronic file in the directory in the electronic file storage device in the user instruction content storage unit in the storage means A display content creation unit that creates image information indicating the directory structure of the electronic file according to the read directory information and electronic file storage destination directory information;
An instruction to save the electronic file in the directory indicated by the image information is received from the user's terminal device, and the same electronic file as the electronic file for which the saving instruction has been issued is indicated among the electronic files in the electronic file storage device. An electronic file storage apparatus comprising: a user instruction content receiving unit that generates electronic file storage destination directory information and stores the generated information in a user instruction content storage unit in a storage unit. In a program for causing a computer to execute an electronic file storage method for storing an electronic file shared by a plurality of users,
Reading out directory information indicating the structure of the directory designated by the user from the user instruction content storage unit in the storage means, and storing an electronic file indicating a storage destination of the electronic file in the directory in the electronic file storage device Reading destination directory information from a user instruction content storage unit in the storage means; creating image information indicating a directory structure of an electronic file according to the read directory information and electronic file storage destination directory information;
A step of receiving an instruction to save an electronic file in a directory indicated by the image information from a user's terminal device, and the same electronic file as the electronic file in which the saving instruction has been issued among the electronic files in the electronic file storage device And a step of causing the computer to execute the step of generating the electronic file storage destination directory information indicating and storing it in the user instruction content storage unit in the storage means.

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