Abstract:
To make it easier to visually check entries in documents such as multipage business forms, form data is gathered in a file containing a plurality of forms. The form data is read, and then a form on the first page is displayed in a window. Under control of an operator, an item such as an entry on the form to be checked on the first page is displayed with scrolling, and its display area is fixed and stored. When the operator initiates the display of a form on the second page, the window displays the same area as the display area of the form on the first page. It is also possible to display an item to be checked in a central portion of the window or to search a plurality of pages for an item to be checked.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a file display device for displaying the content of a file having a plurality of pages in a window, and more specifically to a file display device for a screen suitable for checking information such as a character or an image displayed in a window.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Paper forms that include ruled lines, items, and so on to be filled-in with specific information have been widely used. Examples of these include purchase slips, sales slips, and shipping slips. Such forms are often checked visually. More recently, in order to enable computer processing, such forms have been represented electronically, i.e., text files or images of forms are used instead of paper copies. Electronic forms may be displayed to an operator who pages through them and checks them visually. One such approach is described in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 10-269053.  
           [0003]    When the next form page is displayed in a window of a display responsive to an operator&#39;s command, each form page is displayed with the upper left corner of the page brought back to a reference point. For example, the upper left corner of a page may be aligned with the upper left corner of the window. Alternatively, the next form page may be displayed by shifting by the width of a page, so as to align the page with respect to the left side of the window. Unfortunately, when the lower right part of a form page has an entry to be checked, the operator first needs to display the next form page in the window, scroll the window to the targeted position that displays the entry to be checked, and then visually check the entry. These operations decrease the productivity of the operator.  
           [0004]    A common approach to solving the above-mentioned problem is to reduce the size of the form page displayed, i.e., to collapse the form. This makes it difficult to check pages visually, however, because the characters and images displayed are proportionally reduced in size. Another approach is to use a large display that can display an entire page, full size. This approach, however, is not really practical, because a remarkably large display may well be needed for a form with a correspondingly large page such as a form in JISA3 format.  
           [0005]    The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Document No. 10-269053 shows a technology for displaying a file that includes a plurality of pages on a display by displaying a page enlarged in a main part of the display, while the page concerned is collapsed and arranged side-by-side with pages before and after in a sub-part alongside the main part. Further according to the Patent Document, when an operator specifies a given area in a page collapsed in a sub-part, the specified area is transferred into a main part and displayed in real time.  
           [0006]    However, even if the technology described in the aforementioned Patent Document is used, when an operator switches from one displayed page to the next, the operator also has to specify an area to be displayed in the main screen. Therefore, this technique too suffers from undue complexity and low operator productivity.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0007]    The present invention facilitates an operator&#39;s visual check without complicating the operation by enabling the same area to be displayed in sequential pages, with an area displayed in one page reflected in a display of the next page, when the next page is displayed in turn.  
           [0008]    A file display device according to the present invention includes display means for displaying the content of a file having a plurality of pages in a window, storage means for storing a display area of a given page in the file displayed in the window, and determination means for determining a display area of a page to be displayed next in the window on the basis of the display area of the given page stored in the storage means. In such a file display device, a determination means determines a display area of a page to be displayed next so that the same display area as that of the given page is displayed. The file display device further includes directing means for outputting a direction to the storage means, wherein the storage means stores a display area of a given page displayed in the window when the storage means receives a direction from the directing means.  
           [0009]    The file display device further includes area selection means for selecting a certain area within the given page displayed in the window. The area selected by the area selection means is also displayed in a page other than the given page. The file display device further includes shifting means for shifting the area selected by the area selection means into substantially the central region of the window. The file display device further includes searching means for searching text information within the area selected by the area selection means over a plurality of pages in the file.  
           [0010]    A form display device according to the present invention includes a storage unit for storing a form file wherein a single form page generated conforming to a given regular form corresponds to a single page and a plurality of form pages composes a single file, a display unit for displaying the form file stored in the storage unit in units of a page, and a display determination unit for determining a display area of the form file on the display unit so that the display area is fixed to the same position within the form when the page is switched to another page. The form display device further includes a direction unit for directing the display determination unit to place an area within a form in the central region of the display area. The form display device further includes a selection unit for specifying a given area within a form as a selection area and a searching unit for searching text information within the selection area specified by the selection unit over a plurality of form pages in a form file.  
           [0011]    The present invention includes a program for causing a computer to execute a function of displaying a file having a plurality of pages in a window on a display, the program further causing the computer to execute the functions of displaying a given page of the file in the window, storing a display area of the given page displayed in the window, and displaying another page of the file in the window so that the same display area as that of the given page is displayed on the basis of the display area of the stored given page. The program further causes the computer to execute the functions of selecting a certain area within the given page displayed in the window, and displaying the selected area in the window with the area shifted into nearly the central region of a display area of the window. The program further causes the computer to execute the functions of selecting a certain area within the given page displayed in the window, receiving a keyword associated with the selected area, comparing the keyword with text information contained in the certain area corresponding to each page of the file, one after another, and displaying a page of the file containing the text information in the window if the keyword and the text information match.  
           [0012]    The present invention also includes a program for causing a computer to execute the functions of displaying a first page in a window on a display, storing a display area of the first page displayed in the window, and displaying a second page in a window so that the same display area as that of the first page is displayed on the basis of the display area of the stored first page. The present invention also encompasses the case wherein a first page and a second page are stored in different files.  
           [0013]    The programs to be executed by a computer can be tangibly embodied in a storage medium that is readably stored by the computer. The storage medium may be a CD-ROM medium, for example, and may be in a form so that a program is read by a CD-ROM reader in a computer and, for example, stored on various types of memory in a computer such as a hard disk and executed. The program can also be in a form to be provided to a notebook PC or a portable terminal via a network with a program transmission unit, for example. It is enough for the program transmission unit to include memory for storing a program and program transmission means for providing a program over a network.  
           [0014]    The present invention includes a method wherein respective functions in the above-mentioned programs are represented by steps. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary hardware configuration of a computer that is suitable for implementing a form display system according to the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a form display system according to the invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing how a form may be displayed.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 continues the flowchart of FIG. 3.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a form shifting function.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic scrolling function.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a searching function.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 8A and 8B show examples of form data.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 shows a window and FIX button displayed on a display device.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 10 shows a first page of a form displayed in a window.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 11 shows a form page to be displayed in a window shifted according to an operation by an operator.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 12 shows a state after the FIX button is clicked on.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 13 shows a second form page, which is displayed in a window when a form shifting function is executed.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 14A and 14B show a process of displaying a selection area in the center of a window when an automatic scrolling function is executed.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 15 shows a state wherein a selection area of a form page is displayed in the center of a window.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 16A, 16B, and  16 C show a process of searching a character string within a selection area when a searching function is executed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]    Now, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0032]    As shown in FIG. 1, a computer suitable for implementing the invention includes CPU (Central Processing Unit)  101  as operation means, main memory  103  as storage means connected to CPU  101  via M/B (motherboard) chip set  102  and CPU bus, video card  104  also connected to CPU  101  via M/B chip set  102  and AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port), display device  105  as display means for displaying graphic data generated at video card  104 , hard disk  106 , network interface  107 , and USB 108  connected to M/B chip set  102  via PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus, and floppy disk drive  110  and keyboard/mouse  111  as directing means and/or area selection means connected to M/B chip set  102  via bridge circuit  109  and slow bus such as ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus from PCI bus. As display device  105 , a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a CRT display, for example, can be used.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 is exemplary rather than limiting; various other configurations can be employed as well. For example, the computer may have video memory instead of video card  104  so as to process image data in CPU  101 , or may have a drive for a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory) or a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory) via an interface such as ATA (At Attachment).  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating functions of a form display system according to the invention. The exemplary embodiment includes form reading unit  10  for loading form data to be processed from outside into storage unit  30 , external input unit (direction unit, selection unit)  20  for receiving commands from an operator, storage unit  30  for storing the above-mentioned form data and data such as position information of a form (to be described later) that is needed in the processing of each unit, displaying unit  40  for displaying a form page, display determination unit  50  for determining where to display a form page on display unit  40 , searching unit  60  as searching means for searching form data in response to an operation from an operator received at external input unit.  20 , and form data obtaining unit  70  for accessing data on a page to be processed from form data stored in storage unit  30  in response to an operation from an operator received at external input unit  20 .  
         [0035]    Display unit  40  includes window displaying unit  41  for displaying a window on a display, selection area displaying unit  42  for displaying a selection area (to be described later) selected by a command from an operator in a window, form page displaying unit  43  for obtaining form data after shifted through form data obtaining unit  70  and displaying the data in a window.  
         [0036]    Display determination unit  50  includes position information obtaining unit  51  for obtaining position information for a form displayed in a window on display unit  40 , position information operation unit  52  for operating the position of a form page to be displayed next in a window on the basis of position information obtained by position information obtaining unit  51 , and form data shifting unit  53  for shifting a form page to be displayed next in a window by a predetermined distance in a predetermined direction on the basis of the operation result obtained by position information operation unit  52 .  
         [0037]    In the system configuration shown in FIG. 2, external input unit  20  is implemented by keyboard/mouse  111 , and storage unit  30  is implemented by hard disk  106 . Form reading unit  10 , displaying unit  40 , display determination unit  50 , searching unit  60 , and form data obtaining unit  70  are a software block implemented in CPU  101 . A program for controlling CPU  101  to execute these functions may be provided on a magnetic disk, optical disk, semiconductor memory, or other recording medium, or delivered over a network, and read into main memory  103 . The data or program held in main memory  103  can be saved in a recording device such as hard disk  106 , if needed. Form reading unit  10  may be network interface  107  or USB  108  for enabling data to be read from an external recording medium (not shown) to storage unit  30 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing exemplary flows for displaying forms according to the invention. The term “form data” used below refers to data in a file that includes a plurality of form pages, where one sheet of a form corresponds to one page. In this embodiment, form data is generated in PDF (Portable Document File: trademark of Adobe) form.  
         [0039]    Now, a specific flow of a process will be described.  
         [0040]    First, a memory area is initialized, and a window with “FIX” button is displayed on window display unit  41  of display unit  40  (step  101 ). Operation of the FIX button will be described below. Then, a first page of form data obtained via form data obtaining unit  70  is read in the initialized memory area (storage unit  30 ) (step  102 ), and the first form page is displayed in a window by window display unit  41  (step  103 ).  
         [0041]    Then, according to an operation from an operator, the form page is shifted and displayed (step  104 ). Specifically, an operator scrolls a screen by using external input unit  20  so that an entry of a form that the operator wants to check is displayed. Next, determination is made whether the operator specified a selection area (certain area) or not (step  105 ). A selection area is an area which an operator specifies by mouse-dragging a certain area within a form displayed in a window. If it is determined that the operator specifies a selection area at step  105 , selection area displaying unit  42  on display unit  40  displays the selected selection area (step  106 ). A selection area may be displayed with, for example, the selection area surrounded by a frame or with the selection area in a reverse image. The selected selection area is stored in storage unit  30 . If it is determined that the operator does not specify a selection area at step  105 , the process returns to step  104  where processing continues.  
         [0042]    After the selection area is displayed at step  106 , a determination is made as to whether the operator clicks on the FIX button or not (step  107 ). If the operator clicks on the FIX button, position information obtaining unit  51  of display determination unit  50  obtains position information on a window, and a form page currently displayed in the window, from the upper left point of the window to the upper left point of the form page. The position information is stored in storage unit  30  as position information X (step  108 ). Position information X is vector information which includes components of distance and direction. If the operator does not click on the FIX button at step  107 , the process returns to step  104  where processing continues.  
         [0043]    After position information X is stored at step  108 , window displaying unit  41  on display unit  40  hides the FIX button in the window and further displays a “FORM SHIFT” button, “AUTOMATIC SCROLL” button, and “SEARCH” button in the window (step  109 ). Functions of the FORM SHIFT button, AUTOMATIC SCROLL button, and SEARCH button will be described later.  
         [0044]    Then, a determination is made as to whether the operator clicks on the FORM SHIFT button or not (step  110 ). If the operator clicks on the FORM SHIFT button, form shifting function SA, which is a subroutine for displaying the next form page, is executed, and the process proceeds to the next step  111 . If the operator does not click on the FORM SHIFT button, the process directly proceeds to the next step  111 . Form shifting function SA will be described in detail later.  
         [0045]    Then, a determination is made as to whether the operator clicks on the AUTOMATIC SCROLL button or not (step  111 ). If the operator clicks on the AUTOMATIC SCROLL button, automatic scrolling function SB, which is a subroutine for displaying the next form page in the automatic scrolling display, is executed, and the process proceeds to the next step  112 . If the operator does not click on the AUTOMATIC SCROLL button, the process directly proceeds to the next step  112 . The automatic scrolling function SB will be described in detail later.  
         [0046]    Then, a determination is made as to whether the operator clicks on the SEARCH button or not (step  112 ). If the operator clicks on the SEARCH button, searching function SC, which is a subroutine for searching, is executed, and the process proceeds to the next step  113 . If the operator does not click on the SEARCH button, the process directly proceeds to the next step  113 . The searching function SC will be described in detail later.  
         [0047]    Then, a determination is made as to whether the operator commands the process to finish (step  113 ). If so, the process ends. If not, the process returns to step  110  where processing continues.  
         [0048]    Now, the above-mentioned form shifting function SA will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of a process of the form shifting function SA. The form shifting function provides the capability to jump from an old page to a new page, and have new page display the same display area as was displayed on the old page. With this function, the same area as that of the previously displayed page can be displayed even if a page switches to another page. This ensures that the same item or the same entry is displayed in the next page.  
         [0049]    In this process, form data on a page to be displayed next (generally called “the next page,” hereinafter referred to as a “corresponding page”) is loaded on memory (step  201 ). Then, position information X stored in storage unit  30  is read out, and a form of a corresponding page is shifted to conform to the position information X (step  202 ). Specifically, the position of a corresponding page is operated on the basis of the position information X read out at position information operation unit  52 , and then the corresponding page is shifted by form data shifting unit  53 . Next, the shifted corresponding page is displayed on form page displaying unit  43  (step  203 ), and the process ends.  
         [0050]    Now, the above-mentioned automatic scrolling function SB will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the automatic scrolling function SB. The automatic scrolling function automatically displays a selection area selected by an operator in the center of a window. With this function, an item that an operator wants to check can always be displayed in the central region of a window, which makes the operator&#39;s visual check easier.  
         [0051]    In this process, position information obtaining part  51  first obtains position information on a part from the center of the selection area currently displayed in a window to the center of the window, and stores the information in storage device  30  as position information Y (step  301 ). Position information Y is also vector information which includes components of a distance and a direction, as is the above-mentioned position information X. Then, position information X stored in storage device  30  is read out, a vector operation is executed in position information operation unit  52  by using position information X and position information Y, and new position information Z is obtained (step  302 ). The new position information Z is also vector information which includes components of a distance and a direction. Then, the new position information Z becomes position information X, and is stored in storage unit  30  (step  303 ). Position information X (new position information Z) stored in storage device  30  and form data are read out, and a currently displayed form page is shifted to conform to position information X by form data shifting unit  53  (step  304 ). In tune with this shift, a selection area is shifted to the center of a window (step  305 ). The previous selection area is replaced with the shifted selection area for storing in storage unit  30 . Then, the shifted form is displayed by form page displaying unit  43  (step  306 ), and the process ends.  
         [0052]    Each of the above-mentioned techniques for the position information obtaining unit  51 , the position information operation unit  52 , and the data shifting unit  53  is illustrative rather than limiting; other techniques may be used as well.  
         [0053]    The above-mentioned searching function SC will now be described in detail. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the searching function SC. The searching function searches a selected area specified by the operator for a character string that the operator may specify. Particularly in this illustrative embodiment, a search can be made for a selected area specified by an operator over a plurality of pages (a plurality of form pages) making up form data. For example, an entry of interest to the operator can be searched in the case of a form.  
         [0054]    In this process, window display unit  41  first displays a dialog box for accepting a search character (step  401 ). The operator enters a search character from external input unit  20 , and then, by clicking on the search button, triggers storing of the search character into storage unit  30  as stored character data (step  402 ).  
         [0055]    Then, searching unit  60  obtains character data within a selection area of a page (a form page) currently displayed from storage unit  30 , reads out character data stored in storage unit  30 , and then compares the two (step  403 ). A determination is made as to whether the character data within the selection area includes the stored character data or not (step  404 ). If the character data within the selection area includes the stored character data, a form of the corresponding page is displayed on form page displaying unit  43  (step  405 ), and the corresponding character within the selection area (a character corresponding to the stored character data) is in a reverse image (step  406 ). Next, a determination is made as to whether the search continues or not, on the basis of a command to external input unit  20  by an operator (step  407 ). If the search continues, a determination is made as to whether the page currently displayed is the last page or not (step  408 ). If the character data within the selection area does not include the stored character data at step  404 , the process directly proceeds to step  408 . If the search does not continue at step  407 , the dialog box displayed at step  401  is hidden (step  412 ), and the process ends. If the page currently displayed is the last page at step  408 , the process proceeds to the above-mentioned step  412 , where the process ends. If the page currently displayed is not the last page at step  408 , the process proceeds to the next page by shifting by one page (step  409 ), and form data of the corresponding page (the next page) stored in storage unit  30  is loaded (step  410 ). Then, position information X stored in storage unit  30  is read out, a form of the corresponding page is shifted to conform to position information X (step  411 ), and the process returns to step  403 . As a result, the same area as on the previous page is displayed in the following page.  
         [0056]    The above-mentioned form displaying process will now be described in conjunction with a specific example. FIGS. 8A and 8B show an example of form data L, with FIG. 8A showing first form page P 1  and FIG. 8B showing second form page P 2 . Each of form pages P 1  and P 2  is proved with items of “ARTICLE,” “SENDER&#39;S NAME,” “SENDER&#39;S ADDRESS,” “DESTINATION NAME,” “DESTINATION ADDRESS,” and “DATE AND TIME TO BE DELIVERED, which are filled with respective pieces of information. Of course, the form may have more than two pages.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 9 shows window W and FIX button B 1  displayed on display device  105  at step  101 . FIX button B 1  is displayed at the leftmost part of menu bar MB provided in the upper part of window W.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 10 shows form page P 1 , the first page displayed in window W at step  103 . In this state, the upper left edge of a display area in window W and the upper left edge of form page P 1  are displayed to match with. In the central region of menu bar MB, “PAGE 1” is displayed, indicating that it is a first page. In this example, as the size of window W is smaller than that of form page P 1  so only a part of the form page P 1  is displayed in window W along with a vertical scroll bar SB 1 , upward scroll button S 1 , and downward scroll button S 2  at the right side of window W, and horizontal scroll bar SB 2 , leftward scroll button S 3  and rightward scroll button S 4  at the bottom of window W.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 11 shows form page P 1  to be displayed in window W shifted as specified by the operator at step  104 . In this example, it is assumed that the operator wants to check the entry of “DESTINATION NAME” (“ABC Corporation” in form page P 1 ). As “DESTINATION NAME” is displayed to the right of the central region of form page P 1  (see FIG. 8), the operator controls downward scroll button S 2  and rightward scroll button S 4  to display the corresponding part. FIG. 11 shows that an area containing “ABC Corporation” as “DESTINATION NAME” is selected as selection area A 1  at step  105  as is shown in the figure by a broken line. This selection area A 1  is displayed in a reverse image, for example, at step  106 .  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 12 shows the state after the FIX button is clicked at step  107 . The distance and direction between the upper left point A in window W and the virtual upper left point B in form page P 1  surrounded by a broken line in the figure become position information X to be stored at step  108 . FIG. 12 also shows that window W further displays “FORM SHIFT” button B 2 , “AUTOMATIC SCROLL” button B 3 , and “SEARCH” button B 4 . FORM SHIFT button B 2  includes the following four buttons (from left to right in the figure): “RETURN TO THE FIRST PAGE” button “a,” “RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE” button “b,” “PROCEED TO THE NEXT PAGE” button “c,” and “PROCEED TO THE LAST PAGE” button “d.” 
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 13 shows the second form page P 2 , which is displayed in the window W when the “RETURN TO THE NEXT PAGE” button “c” of “FORM SHIFT” button B 2  is clicked at step  110  and form shifting function SA is executed. Then, the same area in form page P 2  as that in the previous form page P 1  (see FIG. 11) appears in window W. Selection area A 1  is also displayed in the same area, with the destination name of “DEF Corporation” highlighted. “PAGE 2” is also displayed in the central region of menu bar MB, indicating that it is a second page.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIGS. 14A and 14B show a process of displaying selection area A 1  in the center of window W when the “AUTOMATIC SCROLL” button B 3  is clicked on at step  111  and automatic scrolling function SB is executed. FIG. 14A shows a state wherein position information Y is obtained at step  301 . Information on a part between the center WC of window W and the center AC of selection area A 1  is position information Y. FIG. 14B shows a state wherein form page P 2  is shifted by using position information X (new position information Z) at step  304 , and selection area A 1  is shifted to the center of window W at step  305 . In this state, position information X (new position Z) defines the upper left point C of form page P 2 , and the center WC of window W and the center AC of selection area A 1  align. FIG. 15 shows a state wherein selection area A 1  of form page P 2  is displayed in the center of window W.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIGS. 16A and 16B show a process of searching a character string within selection area A 1  when “SEARCH” button B 4  is clicked on at step  112  and searching function SC is executed. FIG. 16A shows a state wherein form page P 1  is displayed in window W and “ABC Corporation” is specified for “DESTINATION NAME” as selection area A 1 . FIG. 16B shows a dialog box DB that contains field F for search characters (here, “DEF Corporation”) to be input at step  401 . At the bottom of this dialog box DB, “SEARCH” button B 5 , which when clicked triggers an action at step  402 . FIG. 16C shows a state wherein, after “DEF Corporation” in form page P 2  is found through steps  403  and  404 , the corresponding character “DEF Corporation” in selection area A 1  is displayed in a reverse image at step  405 .  
         [0064]    As mentioned above, according to this exemplary embodiment of the invention, a display area of form page P 1  corresponding to that of form page P 2  is displayed when a transition occurs from a state of displaying form page P 1  to a state of displaying form page P 2 . That facilitates the operator&#39;s check of an entry as if the operator were actually turning pages of a bundle of slips.  
         [0065]    Thus, a selected area specified by an operator can always be displayed in the center of window W, thus making it easier for the operator to check entries. Further, an operator can search a character within selection area A 1 , which the operator specifies, over a plurality of pages.  
         [0066]    Although a PDF file is used as form data L in the description of the invention so far as a convenience, this is not a limitation of the invention; rather, form data L can be properly selected from files in text forms or image forms, for example.  
         [0067]    In the foregoing discussion, page shifting is triggered by clicking on the “FORM SHIFT” button B 2  displayed in menu bar MB in window W. This is not a limitation of the invention. Page shifting may also be triggered by pressing a “PAGE UP” or “PAGE DOWN” key of keyboard/mouse  111  without displaying “FORM DISPLAYING” button B 2  as shown.  
         [0068]    Although obtaining of position information X is triggered by clicking on the FIX button B 1  in the illustrative embodiment, this is not a limitation of the invention; position information X can be obtained as well without providing the FIX button B 1 .  
         [0069]    Although the invention is illustrated here using an exemplary case wherein a file contains a plurality of form pages, each of which corresponds to one page, this is not a limitation of the invention. Rather, the invention applies as well to a case wherein one form file corresponds to one page as well as one file, and a plurality of files made up in this manner are displayed one after another. The invention can be applied to other kinds of pages as well as forms, for example applied to the front page of a published patent.