Abstract:
An image data identifying unit identifies at least two pieces of image data for images displayed in display regions detected by a detecting unit. The at least two pieces of image data includes a first image data firstly identified by the image data identifying unit. An image data selecting unit selects or deselects the at least two pieces of image data identified by the image data identifying unit. A selection data storing unit stores selection data for each of the plurality of pieces of image data read by a reading unit. The selection data indicates whether each of the plurality of pieces of image data is in a selected state or a deselected state by the image data selecting unit. A determining unit determines whether the first image data is in the selected state or the deselected state based on the selection data. The image data selecting unit sets the at least two image data to the selected state when the determining unit determines that the first image data is in the deselected state, and sets the at least two image data to the deselected state when the determining unit determines that the first image data is in the selected state.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-157011 filed Jun. 14, 2007 and No. 2007-161831 filed Jun. 19, 2007. The entire contents of the priority applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an image-selecting device and an image-selecting method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image-selecting device and a storage medium storing an image-selecting program enabling the user to select or deselect a plurality of desired image data from a plurality of images displayed on a display device through simple operations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is known an image-selecting device that is provided with a touch panel arranged on a display screen on a display on which a plurality of images are displayed. Then, when a user touches the touch panel by a finger, an image corresponding to the touched position on the touch panel is selected. Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-92386 discloses that an image-selecting device is capable of selecting the image data for the images in a path traced by the finger from a position where the finger touches the touch panel to a position where the finger is removed from the touch panel. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, with the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-92386, the user can only select the image data and cannot deselect the selected image data. A solution to this problem may be providing buttons for indicating selection of image data and deselection of image data so that the user may touch the touch panel after specifying selection or deselection by way of the corresponding one of the buttons. Then, the user can select (or deselect) the image data of the images in which the user traces a path over the images while touching the touch panel. However, this arrangement requires a cumbersome operation. In other words, the user is required to combine an operation for indicating selection of image data or deselection of image data and an operation for touching the image of the image data, thereby resulting in tedious operations and unavailability for the user. 
     Additionally, in case image data of images in the path traced by the finger on the touch panel are deselected when the image data has already been selected but are selected when the image data has not been selected yet. In this case, if the user touches an unselected image when the user traces the touch panel in order to deselect images, the touched unselected image is selected. 
     In view of the forgoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image-selecting device and a storage medium storing an image-selecting program enabling the user to select or deselect a plurality of desired image data from a plurality of images displayed on a display device through simple operations. 
     To achieve the above and other objects, one aspect of the invention provides an image-selecting device including a storing unit, a displaying unit, a detecting unit, a reading unit, a display controlling unit, an image data identifying unit, an image data selecting unit, a selection data storing unit, and a determining unit. The storing unit stores a plurality of pieces of image data. The displaying unit displays a plurality of images based on the plurality of pieces of image data and has a plurality of display regions for each of the plurality of images. The detecting unit detects each of the plurality of display regions receiving direct input by an indicator. The reading unit reads the plurality of pieces of image data from the storing unit. The display controlling unit controls the displaying unit to display the plurality of images. The image data identifying unit identifies at least two pieces of image data for the images displayed in the display regions detected by the detecting unit. The image data selecting unit selects or deselects the at least two pieces of image data identified by the image data identifying unit. The selection data storing unit stores selection data for each of the plurality of pieces of image data read by the reading unit. The selection data indicates whether each of the plurality of pieces of image data is in a selected state or a deselected state by the image data selecting unit. The determining unit determines whether a first image data firstly identified by the image data identifying unit among the at least two pieces of image data is in the selected state or the deselected state based on the selection data. The image data selecting unit sets the at least two image data to the selected state when the determining unit determines that the first image data is in the deselected state, and sets the at least two image data to the deselected state when the determining unit determines that the first image data is in the selected state. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer-executable image-selecting program for an image-selecting device. The image-selecting device includes a storing unit that stores a plurality of pieces of image data, a displaying unit that displays a plurality of images based on the plurality of pieces of image data and has a plurality of display regions for each of the plurality of images, and a detecting unit that detects each of the plurality of display regions receiving direct input by an indicator. The image-selecting program includes: 
     instructions for reading the plurality of pieces of image data from the storing unit; 
     instructions for controlling the displaying unit to display the plurality of images; 
     instructions for identifying at least two pieces of image data for the images displayed in the display regions detected by the detecting unit; 
     instructions for selecting or deselecting the at least two pieces of image data identified in the identifying instructions; 
     instructions for storing selection data for each of the plurality of pieces of image data read in the plurality of pieces of image data reading instructions, the selection data indicating whether each of the plurality of pieces of image data is in a selected state or a deselected state in the selecting or deselecting instructions; and 
     instructions for determining whether first image data firstly identified by the identifying instructions among the at least two pieces of image data is in the selected state or the deselected state based on the selection data, 
     wherein the selecting or deselecting instructions sets the at least two image data to the selected state when the determining instructions determines that the first image data is in the unselected state, and sets the at least two image data to the unselected state when the determining instructions determines that the first image data is in the selected state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the external structure of a multifunction peripheral according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the electrical structure of the multifunction peripheral; 
         FIG. 3A  is an explanatory diagram showing a sample relationship between thumbnails of image files displayed on an LCD and their display position numbers; 
         FIG. 3B  is a table showing sample content of a thumbnail list stored in a thumbnail list memory area; 
         FIG. 3C  is a table showing sample content of a temporary selection list stored in a temporary selection list memory area; 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating steps in a printing process performed on the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating steps in a temporary selection process performed on the multifunction peripheral; 
         FIGS. 6A-6D  are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method of selecting image files by touching a touch panel and tracing a path over thumbnails displayed on the LCD; 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  are tables showing the content of the thumbnail list memory area modified according to the operation in  FIGS. 6A-6D ; 
         FIGS. 8A-8D  are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method of changing the selection status flag for image files from “selected” to “unselected” by touching the touch panel and tracing a path over thumbnails displayed on the LCD; 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating steps in a printing process executed by the multifunction peripheral according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating steps in a continuous selection process executed on the multifunction peripheral; 
         FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of selecting image files by individually touching two thumbnails displayed on the LCD; 
         FIGS. 12A-12B  are tables showing the content of the thumbnail list memory area modified according to the operation in  FIGS. 11A-11D ; 
         FIG. 12C  is an explanatory diagram illustrating a continuous selection mode button displayed on the LCD according to a modification to the second embodiment; and 
         FIG. 12D  is a block diagram showing the electrical structure of a RAM of the multifunction peripheral according to the second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described while referring to the accompanying drawings.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the external structure of a multifunction peripheral (hereinafter abbreviated to “MFP”)  1  having an image-selecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the MFP  1  is integrally provided with a printer  21  disposed in a lower section thereof, a scanner  20  disposed in an upper section thereof, and a control panel  6  disposed on the front surface of the scanner  20 . Through these components, the MFP  1  implements various functions, including a printer function, scanner function, and copier function. 
     The scanner  20  includes a document scanning bed (not shown), and a document cover  8  rotatably attached to the document scanning bed via hinges provided on the rear side. 
     The printer  21  functions to record images on printing paper. An opening  5  is formed in the front surface of the MFP  1 , and specifically in the front surface of the printer  21 . A paper tray  3  and a discharge tray  4  are disposed in the opening  5  so as to be completely accommodated therein. The paper tray  3  and discharge tray  4  are arranged in two levels vertically, with the discharge tray  4  disposed above the paper tray  3 . 
     Memory card slots  22  are provided in the front surface of the printer  21  above the opening  5 . The memory card slots  22  accept the insertion of memory cards  22   a  (see  FIG. 2 ). When a memory card  22   a  is inserted into one of the memory card slots  22 , the MFP  1  can store image data scanned by the scanner  20  in the memory card  22   a  as an image file. Some examples of the types of memory cards  22   a  that may be inserted into the memory card slots  22  include CompactFlash (registered trademark), SmartMedia (registered trademark), Memory Stick (registered trademark), SD Card (registered trademark), and xD Card (registered trademark). 
     The connector of a USB interface  23  is also exposed in the front surface of the printer  21  above the opening  5 . The MFP  1  can be connected to a personal computer (hereinafter abbreviated to “PC”) by inserting one end of a USB cable (not shown) into the connector of the USB interface  23  and the other end of the USB cable into the connector of a USB interface provided in the PC, enabling the MFP  1  and the PC to communicate via the USB cable. The method of connecting the PC and the memory card  22   a  to the MFP  1  is not limited to a specific interface (i.e., the USB interface  23  and the memory card slots  22 ), but may be established through another type of interface, such as a parallel interface or network interface, provided in the MFP  1 . Further, if the memory card  22   a  is connected to a card slot or USB interface provided in another device, the MFP  1  may connect to the memory card  22   a  via the above interfaces. 
     The control panel  6  provided on the front of the document cover  8  has a laterally elongated rectangular shape and includes operating keys  15 , an LCD  16 , a touch panel  17 , and a speaker  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The operating keys  15  allow the user to input commands and data for controlling the MFP  1 . In this embodiment, the operating keys  15  include a Print Image File button  15   a , a Cancel button  15   b , and a Print button  15   c.    
     The touch panel  17  is an input device superposed over the surface of the LCD  16 . The user touches the touch panel  17  to select images and the like displayed on the LCD  16 . For example, when thumbnail images (hereinafter simply referred to as “thumbnails”) are displayed on the LCD  16  and the user touches the touch panel  17 , the touch panel  17  identifies a thumbnail displayed at a display position on the LCD  16  corresponding to the touched position. 
     Here, the touch panel  17  is not limited to any particular position detecting method. For example, the MFP  1  may employ a touch panel using a pressure sensor for detecting pressure by the user&#39;s finger or an indicating device, or a touch panel employing an infrared or electric field sensor detecting proximity of a finger or indicating device. 
     The speaker  18  issues notifications to the user in the form of operating sounds when the user presses the operating keys  15 , or warning sounds when errors occur. With the MFP  1  having the above construction, if the user presses the Print Image File button  15   a  while a memory card  22   a  storing image files is inserted into one of the memory card slots  22  provided in the front surface of the MFP  1 , the MFP  1  reads all image data stored on the memory card  22   a  and displays thumbnails of the image data on the LCD  16 . Here, thumbnails are small images formed by reducing the image files. 
     At this time, the user can touch the touch panel  17  with a finger to indicate a desired thumbnail among thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 . When the user touches a thumbnail on the LCD  16 , the printer  21  is configured to print the image from the image file corresponding to the touched thumbnail on printing paper. 
     Next, the electrical structure of the MFP  1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing this electrical structure. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the MFP  1  is primarily configured of a CPU  11 , a ROM  12 , a RAM  13 , the operating keys  15 , the LCD  16 , the touch panel  17 , the speaker  18 , the scanner  20 , the printer  21 , the memory card slots  22 , and the USB interface  23 . The CPU  11 , ROM  12 , and RAM  13  are interconnected via a bus line  26 . 
     Further, the bus line  26  is connected to the operating keys  15 , LCD  16 , touch panel  17 , speaker  18 , scanner  20 , printer  21 , memory card slots  22 , and USB interface  23  via an I/O port  27 . 
     The CPU  11  of the MFP  1  serves to control the various functions of the MFP  1  based on fixed values and programs stored in the ROM  12  and RAM  13  and to control each component of the MFP  1  connected to the I/O port  27  based on various signals exchanged with the USB interface  23 . 
     The ROM  12  is a non-rewritable memory storing control programs and the like executed on the MFP  1 . The image selection program shown in the flowcharts of  FIGS. 4 ,  6 ,  9 , and  10  is also stored in the ROM  12 . 
     The RAM  13  is a nonvolatile rewritable memory for temporarily storing various data when the CPU  11  executes operations of the MFP  1 . The RAM  13  is provided with an image memory area  13   a  storing image files acquired from the memory card  22   a  for images to be printed by the printer  21  on printing paper; a thumbnail list memory area  13   b  storing a thumbnail list including such data as the filenames and display position numbers described later of image files stored in the memory card  22   a ; a temporary selection list memory area  13   c  storing display position numbers of image files identified when the user touches the touch panel  17  in a temporary selection process described later (see  FIG. 5 ) as a temporary selection list; and a temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  storing the display position number of the image file initially identified in the temporary selection process. 
     Next, the thumbnail list memory area  13   b , temporary selection list memory area  13   c , and temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
       FIG. 3A  is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating an example of relationships between thumbnails for image files displayed on the LCD  16  and display position numbers.  FIG. 3B  is a table conceptually illustrating sample content of a thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b .  FIG. 3C  is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating sample content of a temporary selection list stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c.    
     The display position numbers for thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIG. 3A , a total of eighteen thumbnails arranged in three rows and six columns are displayed on the LCD  16 . 
     To simplify the description of display positions for thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 , the display position of the thumbnails will be referred to based on a combination of a letter and number, where letters from “A” to “C” indicate the rows of thumbnails in order from top to bottom and numbers from “ 1 ” to “ 6 ” indicate the columns of thumbnails in order from left to right. The combination of letters and numbers will be referred to in the following description as the display position number. For example, “A 1 ” denotes the display position number of the thumbnail displayed in the first row and first column, and “C 6 ” denotes the display position number of the thumbnail displayed in the third row and sixth column. 
     Coordinates for a two-dimensional rectangular shape are established for the LCD  16  and the touch panel  17  superposed over the surface of the LCD  16 , with ( 0 ,  0 ) being the point of origin in the upper left corner and (X, Y) being the ending point in the lower right corner. Each of the display position numbers “A 1 -C 6 ” described above is associated with separate coordinate positions on the LCD  16 . 
     For example, the display position number “A 1 ” is associated with a rectangular display region whose four vertices have coordinates (a, b), (a, d), (c, b), and (c, d). A thumbnail is displayed within this display region. In the same way, each of the other display position numbers “A 2 -C 6 ” is associated with a separate rectangular display region. When the user touches one of the thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 , the user actually touches the touch panel  17  superposed over the LCD  16 . The touch panel  17  detects the coordinates at the touched position, enabling the MFP  1  to identify the position display number of the thumbnail displayed in a position on the LCD  16  corresponding to the touched coordinates. Thus, the MFP  1  can identify the image file displayed in the position display number. 
     For example, when the user touches a position on the touch panel  17  within the rectangular region whose four vertices have coordinates (a, b), (a, d), (c, b), and (c, d), the MFP  1  identifies display position number “A 1 ” of the thumbnail displayed in a position on the LCD  16  corresponding to the touched coordinates, thereby the image file corresponding to the thumbnail displayed at the display position number “A 1 ”. 
       FIG. 3B  conceptually illustrates sample content of a thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . When the MFP  1  executes a printing process described later with reference to  FIG. 4 , the MFP  1  searches for all image files stored in the memory card  22   a . Subsequently, the MFP  1  creates a thumbnail list that includes the filename, display position number, and other data for each image file found when searching the memory card  22   a  and stores this thumbnail list in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the thumbnail list is configured of the display position numbers indicating display positions of thumbnails on the LCD  16 , filenames of the image files, and selection status flags indicating whether the image files are selected or unselected. Each row in the thumbnail list corresponds to a single image file. 
     The display position numbers “A 1 -C 6 ” are set to the display position numbers of the thumbnail list with no duplication. As the display position numbers is set in the thumbnail list, a thumbnail of an image file is displayed in the display position of the LCD  16  indicated by the display position number. 
     The selection status flag indicates whether the image file is “selected” or “unselected.” When the selection status flag is “selected,” the thumbnail of the image file is highlighted on the LCD  16 , as are thumbnails at display position numbers “A 2 ” and “A 3 ” in the example of  FIG. 3A . When the selection status flag is set to “unselected” or is modified from “selected” to “unselected,” the corresponding thumbnail displayed on the LCD  16  is not highlighted, as in the thumbnail at display position number “A 1 ” in the example of  FIG. 3A . In the following description, highlighted thumbnails will be referred to as thumbnails displayed in a selected state, while unhighlighted thumbnails will be referred to as thumbnails displayed in an unselected state. 
       FIG. 3C  is an explanatory diagram conceptually illustrating sample content of the temporary selection list stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . When the user touches the touch panel  17 , the MFP  1  identifies the display position of the thumbnail displayed on the LCD  16  at a position identical to the coordinate position touched on the touch panel  17 . Further, if the user continues to touch the touch panel  17  with a finger while moving the position of the finger, the MFP  1  identifies the display position number of the thumbnail displayed at the position of the LCD  16  having coordinates corresponding to the coordinate position of the moved finger. 
     The temporary selection list memory area  13   c  stores all display position numbers of the thumbnails identified while the user&#39;s finger was touching the touch panel  17 . The temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  stores the display position number of the thumbnail initially identified while the user&#39;s finger was touching the touch panel  17 . The thumbnails for image files corresponding to display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are displayed on the LCD  16  in a format different from that for selected and unselected thumbnails, such as the format for the thumbnail at display position number “C 5 ” in the example of  FIG. 3A . In the following description, thumbnails in this format differing from the format for selected and unselected thumbnail displays will be referred to as thumbnails displayed in a temporarily selected state. 
     For example, if the user touches the thumbnail at display position number “C 5 ” on the touch panel  17 , as shown in  FIG. 3A , the display position number “C 5 ” of the touched thumbnail is stored in both the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  and the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . As long as the user continues to touch the touch panel  17 , the thumbnail for the image file corresponding to the display position number “C 5 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  is displayed on the LCD  16  in the temporarily selected state. 
     Next, the printing process executed by the CPU  11  of the MFP  1  will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating steps in this printing process and is executed when the user presses the Print Image File button  15   a  while a memory card  22   a  is inserted into one of the memory card slots  22 . 
     In this printing process, the user can select desired image files from those stored in the memory card  22   a  through simple operations and direct the printer  21  to print images on printing paper based on the selected image files. Accordingly, the MFP  1  can select desired image files from those stored in the memory card  22   a  through simple operations and direct the printer  21  to print images on printing paper based on the selected image files. 
     In S 1  of the printing process, the CPU  11  initializes the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . In S 2  the CPU  11  searches the memory card  22   a  for all image files, creates a thumbnail list based on the image files found in this search, and stores the thumbnail list in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . When the thumbnail list is created (i.e., when in its initial state), selection status flags for all image files are set to “unselected.” 
     In S 3  the CPU  11  displays thumbnails on the LCD  16  for image files corresponding to display position numbers “A 1 -C 6 ” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  and sets each thumbnail to the selected state or the unselected state based on the selection status flag for the corresponding image file. 
     In S 4  the CPU  11  determines whether the position of the user&#39;s fingers touching the touch panel  17  is a display position on the LCD  16  for displaying a thumbnail. If the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  is a display position for a thumbnail (S 4 : YES), the CPU  11  executes a temporary selection process in S 5 . However, if the position of the user&#39;s finger does not correspond to a display position for a thumbnail (S 4 : NO), the CPU  11  skips S 5 -S 8  and advances to S 9 . 
     Here, the temporary selection process of S 5  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating steps in the temporary selection process and serves to determine display position numbers of image files whose selection status flags have changed in the thumbnail list and the range of display position numbers for image files whose selection status flags have changed based on the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17 . During the period that the CPU  11  is executing the temporary selection process, thumbnails for image files corresponding to display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are set to the temporarily selected state on the LCD  16 . 
     In S 21  at the beginning of the temporary selection process, the CPU  11  initializes the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . In S 22  the CPU  11  identifies the display position number of the thumbnail displayed at the display position on the LCD  16  identical to the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  and stores the identified display position number of the image file in both the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  and the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . In S 23  the CPU  11  sets only thumbnail of image file corresponding to the display position number stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  to the temporarily selected state on the LCD  16 . 
     In S 24  the CPU  11  determines whether the user&#39;s fingers has separated from the touch panel  17 . If the user&#39;s finger has separated from the touch panel  17  (S 24 : YES), the CPU  11  ends the temporary selection process and advances to S 6  in  FIG. 4 . 
     However, if the user&#39;s finger is still touching the touch panel  17  (S 24 : NO), in S 25  the CPU  11  identifies the display position number of the thumbnail at the display position on the LCD  16  corresponding to the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17 . 
     In S 26  the CPU  11  determines whether the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  has moved to the display position of a different thumbnail. If the user&#39;s finger has moved to the display position of a different thumbnail (S 26 : YES), then in S 27  the CPU  11  determines whether the display position number identified in S 25  is included in the temporary selection list in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . On the other hand, if the CPU  11  determines in S 26  that the position of the user&#39;s finger touching the touch panel  17  has not moved to the display position of a different thumbnail (S 26 : NO), then the CPU  11  returns to S 23  and repeats the process in S 23 -S 26  described above. 
     If the CPU  11  determines in S 27  that the display position number identified in S 25  is included in the temporary selection list stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  (S 27 : YES), then the CPU  11  returns to S 23  and repeats the process in S 23 -S 27  described above. On the other hand, if the CPU  11  determines in S 27  that the display position number identified in S 25  is not included in the temporary selection list stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  (S 27 : NO), in S 28  the CPU  11  adds the display position number identified in S 25  to the temporary selection list stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c , and returns to S 23  to repeat the process in S 23 -S 28  described above. 
     Through the temporary selection process of S 5  shown in  FIG. 5 , the MFP  1  can specify either a display position number for an image file whose selection status flag has changed in the thumbnail list, or a range of display position numbers for image files whose selection status flags have changed, based on the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17 . Further, while executing the temporary selection process, the MFP  1  can display thumbnails of image files corresponding to display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  in temporarily selected state on the LCD  16 . After completing the temporary selection process of S 5 , the CPU  11  returns to  FIG. 4  and advances to S 6 . 
     In S 6  of  FIG. 4  the CPU  11  determines whether the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the display position number stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  is set to “unselected.” If the selection status flag for this image file is “unselected” (S 6 : YES), then in S 7  the CPU  11  changes selection status flags for all image files corresponding to display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  to “selected” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . However, if the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the display position number stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  is set to “selected” (S 6 : NO), in S 8  the CPU  11  changes the selection status flags for all image files corresponding to display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  to “unselected” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . Subsequently, the CPU  11  returns to S 3  and repeats the process in S 3 -S 8  described above. 
     If the CPU  11  determines in S 4  that the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  does not correspond to a display position of a thumbnail on the LCD  16  (S 4 : NO), then the CPU  11  skips S 5 -S 8  and advances to S 9 . In S 9  the CPU  11  determines whether the Cancel button  15   b  of the operation keys  15  has been pressed. If the Cancel button  15   b  has been pressed (S 9 : YES), the CPU  11  ends the printing process. However, if the Cancel button  15   b  has not been pressed (S 9 : NO), in S 10  the CPU  11  determines whether the Print button  15   c  has been pressed. 
     If the CPU  11  determines that the Print button  15   c  has been pressed (S 10 : YES), in S 11  the CPU  11  reads image files having a selection status flag set to “selected” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  from the memory card  22   a , stores these image files in the image memory area  13   a , controls the printer  21  to print an image of each file on printing paper, and subsequently ends the printing process. However, if the Print button  15   c  has not been pressed (S 10 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to S 3  and repeats the process in S 3 -S 10  described above. 
     Through the printing process of  FIG. 4  described above, the user can select or deselect all image files within the range specified by sliding a finger over the thumbnails through a simple operation of sliding a finger over thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  and then lifting the finger therefrom. 
     Specifically, if the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail is “unselected,” selection status flags for all image files within the range specified by sliding a finger over the thumbnails are set to “selected.” If the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail is “selected” initially, then selection status flags for all image files within the specified range are set to “unselected.” In other words, the selection status flags for all image files within the range specified by the user&#39;s sliding finger are set based on the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail, enabling the user to perform the process through a simple, easy-to-understand operation. 
     The CPU  11  may check the selection status flags for the image files corresponding to the thumbnails touched by the user&#39;s finger before starting the temporary selection process of S 5  and determines in advance whether the image file corresponding to the thumbnail to which the user slides the user&#39;s finger is selected or deselected so that the CPU  11  simply may follow the outcome of the determination in S 6 . 
     Alternatively, the CPU  11  may check the selection status flags for the image files corresponding to the thumbnails touched by the user&#39;s finger before starting the temporary selection process of S 5  and the CPU  11  may execute a routine for selecting the image file that corresponds to the thumbnail touched at the touch panel  17  (S 5 , S 7 ) if the selection status flag for the image file is “unselected”, whereas the CPU  11  may execute a routine for deselecting the image file that corresponds to the thumbnail touched at the touch panel  17  (S 5 , S 8 ) if the selection status flag for the image file is “selected.” 
     Next, a method of operating the touch panel  17  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A-8D . First, a method of selecting image files in which the user traces a path over thumbnails while touching the touch panel  17  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A-7B . 
       FIGS. 6A-6D  are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method in which the user selects image files by touching the touch panel  17  with a finger and tracing the finger over thumbnails.  FIGS. 7A-7B  conceptually illustrate the content of the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  that changes according to the operation shown in  FIGS. 6A-6D . 
     When the user presses the Print Image File button  15   a  of the operating keys  15  while a memory card  22   a  storing image files is inserted into one of the memory card slots  22 , thumbnails for the image files stored in the memory card  22   a  are displayed on the LCD  16 . In this description, it will be assumed that the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  stores the thumbnail list shown in  FIG. 7A . Accordingly, thumbnails for image files corresponding to display position numbers “A 1 -C 6 ” in the thumbnail list are displayed at display position numbers “A 1 -C 6 ” on the LCD  16 . Since the selection status flags of the image files corresponding to the display position numbers “A 2 ” and “A 3 ” in the thumbnail list are set to “selected” while the remaining selection status flags are set to “unselected.” Therefore, only the thumbnails with the display position numbers “A 2 , A 3 ” are in unselected state while the remaining thumbnails are in selected state as shown in  FIG. 6A . 
     At this time the user touches the thumbnail corresponding to display position number “A 1 ”, as shown in  FIG. 6B . Accordingly, the display position number “A 1 ” is stored in both the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  and the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . The thumbnail for the image file corresponding to the display position number “A 1 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  is displayed on the LCD  16  in a temporarily selected state, as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     Next, the user moves the finger rightward on the display screen, while the finger remains in contact with the touch panel  17 , so as to touch the thumbnails from the display position number “A 1 ” to the display position number “A 5 ” as shown in  FIG. 6C . Consequently, all the display position numbers “A 1 -A 5 ” of the touched thumbnails are stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c.    
     Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 6C , the thumbnails for the image files that correspond to the display position numbers “A 1 -A 5 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are displayed on the LCD  16  in a temporarily selected state. Since the selected thumbnails remain displayed on the LCD  16  in the temporarily selected state while the user&#39;s finger remains in contact with the touch panel  17 , the user can easily visualize which image files are selected. 
     If the user lifts the finger from the touch panel  17  at this time, all selection status flags for lines having display position numbers “A 1 -A 5 ” in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are set to “selected” in the thumbnail list, as shown in  FIG. 7B , because the selection status flag is set to “unselected” in the line having position display number “A 1 ” stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d . Consequently, thumbnails for image files having a selection status flag set to “selected” are displayed on the LCD  16  in the selected state, as shown in  FIG. 6D . 
     In the first embodiment described above, the user can select image files corresponding to all traced thumbnails by performing a simple operation (single operation) of tracing the user&#39;s finger over a plurality of thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 . If the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail image is “unselected,” selection status flags for all image files within the range specified by sliding a finger over the thumbnails are set to “selected,” enabling the user to perform the process through a simple, easy-to-understand operation. 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  are explanatory diagrams conceptually illustrating the method of changing the “selected” setting of the selection status flag to “unselected” for image files corresponding to thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  by sliding a finger over these thumbnails on the touch panel  17 . 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method of changing the selection status flag for image files from “selected” to “unselected” by touching the touch panel  17  and tracing a path over thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 . As shown in  FIG. 8A , the selection status flags for image files corresponding to thumbnails displayed at display position numbers “A 2 , A 3 , A 5 , and A 6 ” are set to “selected,” resulting in these thumbnails being displayed in the selected state on the LCD  16 . 
     If the user touches the touch panel  17  at a position corresponding to the thumbnail at display position number “A 2 ” at this time, as shown in  FIG. 8B , display position number “A 2 ” is stored in both the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  and the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . Consequently, the thumbnail for the image file corresponding to the display position number “ 2 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  is displayed in a temporarily selected state on the LCD  16 , as shown in  FIG. 8B . 
     Next, while a keeping the finger in contact with the touch panel  17 , the user slides the finger rightward over the touch panel  17  to touch the thumbnails of the display position numbers “A 2 -A 4 ” and further slides the finger downward over the touch panel  17  to touch the thumbnails of the display position numbers “A 4 -C 4 ,” as shown in  FIG. 8C . At this time, the display position numbers “A 2 -A 4 , B 4 , and C 4 ” for the touched thumbnails are stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c.    
     Consequently, the thumbnails for image files corresponding to the display position numbers “A 2 -A 4 , B 4 , and C 4 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are displayed on the LCD  16  in the temporarily selected state, as shown in  FIG. 8C . 
     If the user lifts the finger from the touch panel  17  at this time, all selection status flags of the image files for the display position numbers “A 2 -A 4 , B 4 , and C 4 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are set to “unselected” in the thumbnail list since the selection status flag for display position number “A 2 ” stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  is “selected” in the thumbnail list. Consequently, the thumbnails for these image files having selection status flags now set to “unselected” are displayed on the LCD  16  in the unselected state, as shown in  FIG. 8D . 
     As described above, the user can deselect image files corresponding to all traced thumbnails by performing a simple operation (single operation) of tracing the user&#39;s finger over a plurality of thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 . If the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail image is “selected,” selection status flags for all image files within the range specified by sliding a finger over the thumbnails are set to “unselected,” enabling the user to perform the process through a simple, easy-to-understand operation. 
     In the first embodiment described above, the user can deselect image files corresponding to all traced thumbnails by performing a simple operation (single operation) of tracing the user&#39;s finger over a plurality of thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  and lifting the user&#39;s finger therefrom. 
     Specifically, if the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail image is “unselected,” selection status flags for all image files within the range specified by sliding a finger over the thumbnails are set to “selected.” If the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail is “selected” initially, then selection status flags for all image files within the specified range are set to “unselected.” In other words, the selection status flags for all image files within the range specified by the user&#39;s sliding finger are set based on the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail. The user is not required to determine whether each of all image files within the range specified by the user&#39;s sliding finger is selected or deselected, enabling the user to perform the process through a simple, easy-to-understand operation. 
     Next, a MFP  31  according the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this second embodiment, ordinal numbers are assigned to display position numbers in advance. For example, the display position numbers are assigned in order from “A 1 ” to “A 6 ”, “A 1 ” being the leading display position number, followed by “B 1 ” to “B 6 ”, followed by “C 1 ” to “C 6 ”. Then, the user performs a simple operation to individually specify two thumbnails by touching two thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 . Through this simple operation, the user can specify all image files having display position numbers ranging sequentially from the display position number for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail to the display position number for the image file corresponding to the next touched thumbnail in order to select or deselect all image files within this range. 
     Next, the electrical structure of the MFP  31  will be described with reference to  FIG. 12D .  FIG. 12D  is a block diagram showing the electrical structure of the RAM  13  in the MFP  31 . Since the block diagram of the MFP  31  of the second embodiment differs from the block diagram of the MFP  1  of the first embodiment (see  FIG. 2 ) only in terms of the RAM  13 , only the RAM  13  will be described below and the description of the components of the second embodiment that are same as those of the first embodiment will be omitted. 
     The RAM  13  of the second embodiment includes a temporary selection list memory area  13   c  for storing display position numbers of the thumbnails that are identified when the user touches the touch panel  17  in a continuous selection process (see  FIG. 10 ) as a temporary selection list, a temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  for storing a display position number of a thumbnail initially identified in the continuous selection process, and a temporary selection ending position memory area  13   e  for storing a display position number of a thumbnail last identified in the continuous selection process in addition to the image memory area  13   a  and the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Next, the printing process executed by the CPU  11  of the MFP  31  according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating steps in this printing process and is executed when the user presses the Print Image File button  15   a  while a memory card  22   a  is inserted into one of the memory card slots  22 . 
     In this printing process, the user can select desired image files from those stored in the memory card  22   a  through simple operations and can direct the printer  21  to print images on printing paper based on the selected image files. 
     As with the printing process shown in  FIG. 4 , in the printing process, the CPU  11  initializes the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  in S 31 , creates a thumbnail list, and stores the thumbnail list in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  in S 32 . In S 33  the CPU  11  displays the message “Select an image (press and hold to enter the continuous selection mode)” in the bottom of the display on the LCD  16 , as shown in  FIG. 11A . Then, as with the printing process shown in  FIG. 4 , in S 44  the CPU  11  displays thumbnails on the LCD  16  for image files of the thumbnail list and sets each thumbnail to the selected state or the unselected state. 
     In S 35  the CPU  11  determines whether the position of the user&#39;s finger touching the touch panel  17  is a display position on the LCD  16  for displaying a thumbnail. If the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  is a display position for a thumbnail (S 35 : YES), in S 36  the CPU  11  identifies the display position number of the thumbnail displayed at the display position on the LCD  16  matching the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17 . 
     However, if the position of the user&#39;s finger does not correspond to the display position for a thumbnail (S 35 : NO), the CPU  11  skips S 36 -S 41  and advances to S 42 . 
     In S 37  the CPU  11  determines whether the user&#39;s finger has touched the thumbnail at the display position number identified in S 36  for at least a prescribed interval (1 second, for example). If the user&#39;s finger has not continually touched this thumbnail for a period exceeding the prescribed interval (S 37 : NO), in S 38  the CPU  11  determines whether the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the display position number identified in S 36  is “unselected.” 
     If the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the identified display position number is “unselected” (S 38 : YES), in S 39  the CPU  11  changes the selection status flag for this image file to “selected.” However, if the selection status flag is not “unselected” (S 38 : NO), then in S 40  the CPU  11  changes the selection status flag for this image file to “unselected.” Subsequently, the CPU  11  returns to S 34  and repeats the process in S 34 -S 40  described above. 
     On the other hand, if the CPU  11  determines in S 37  that the user&#39;s finger has touched the thumbnail at the display position number identified in S 36  for a period exceeding the prescribed interval (S 37 : YES), then the CPU  11  executes a continuous selection process in S 41 . 
     Here, the continuous selection process of S 41  will be described with reference to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating steps in the continuous selection process of S 41 . This process serves to determine a sequential range of display position numbers from the display position number corresponding to the thumbnail touched by the user for the prescribed interval to a display position number corresponding to a thumbnail directly touched by the user after first removing the finger from the touch panel  17 , and to change the selection status flags for all image files corresponding to the display position numbers in the determined range to “selected” or “unselected.” 
     In S 51  at the beginning of the continuous selection process, the CPU  11  initializes the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . In S 52  the CPU  11  identifies the display position number of the thumbnail displayed at the display position on the LCD  16  identical to the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  and stores the identified display position number in both the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  and the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . In S 53  the CPU  11  sets the thumbnail of the image file corresponding to the display position number stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  to the temporarily selected state on the LCD  16 . 
     In S 54  the CPU  11  waits as long as the user&#39;s finger has not separated from the touch panel  17  (S 54 : NO). When the user&#39;s finger has separated from the touch panel  17  (S 54 : YES), in S 55  the CPU  11  determines whether the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  after the finger separated from the touch panel  17  and subsequently touched the touch panel  17  corresponds to a display position for a thumbnail. Then, the CPU  11  waits as long as the user&#39;s finger has not touched the touch panel  17  corresponds to a display position for a thumbnail (S 55 : NO). 
     However, if the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  corresponds to a display position for a thumbnail (S 55 : YES), then in S 56  the CPU  11  identifies the display position number of the thumbnail displayed at a display position on the LCD  16  matching the position of the user&#39;s finger on the touch panel  17  and stores the identified display position number in the temporary selection ending position memory area  13   e.    
     In S 57  the CPU  11  stores in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  all display position numbers in a continuous range from the display position number stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  to the display position number stored in the temporary selection ending position memory area  13   e . In S 58  the CPU  11  determines whether the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the display position number stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  is set to “unselected.” 
     If the selection status flag for this image file is “unselected” (S 58 : YES), then in S 59  the CPU  11  changes selection status flags for all image files corresponding to the display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  to “selected” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . However, if the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the display position number stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  is set to “selected” (S 71 : NO), then in S 73  the CPU  11  changes the selection status flags for all image files corresponding to the display position numbers stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  to “unselected” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . Subsequently, the CPU  11  ends the continuous selection process of S 41 . 
     Through the continuous selection process of S 41  described with reference to  FIG. 10 , the MFP  31  can determine a sequential range of display position numbers from the display position number corresponding to the thumbnail touched by the user for the prescribed interval to the display position number corresponding to a thumbnail directly touched by the user after first removing the finger from the touch panel  17 , and can change the selection status flags for all image files corresponding to the display position numbers in the determined range to “selected” or “unselected.” After completing the continuous selection process of S 41 , the CPU  11  returns to S 34  in  FIG. 9  and repeats the process of S 34 -S 41  in  FIG. 9 . 
     In S 42  of  FIG. 9 , the CPU  11  determines whether the Cancel button  15   b  of the operation keys  15  has been pressed. If the Cancel button  15   b  has been pressed (S 42 : YES), the CPU  11  ends the printing process. However, if the Cancel button  15   b  has not been pressed (S 42 : NO), in S 43  the CPU  11  determines whether the Print button  15   c  has been pressed. 
     If the CPU  11  determines that the Print button  15   c  has been pressed (S 43 : YES), in S 44  the CPU  11  reads image files having a selection status flag set to “selected” in the thumbnail list stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  from the memory card  22   a , stores these image files in the image memory area  13   a , controls the printer  21  to print an image of each file on printing paper, and subsequently ends the printing process. However, if the Print button  15   c  has not been pressed (S 43 : NO), the CPU  11  returns to S 34  and repeats the process in S 34 -S 43  described above. 
     Through the printing process of  FIG. 9  described above, selection status flags for all image files within the specified range are set to “selected” if the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail was set to “unselected,” and to “unselected” if the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail was “selected.” Therefore, this operation is simple and easy to understand for the user since selection status flags of all image files within the specified range are set based on the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail. 
     The CPU  11  may check the selection status flags for the image files corresponding to the thumbnails continually touched by the user&#39;s finger for a period exceeding the prescribed interval before starting the continuous selection process of S 41  and determines in advance whether the image files within the specified range in the continuous selection process is selected or deselected so that the CPU  11  simply may follow the outcome of the determination in S 58 . 
     Alternatively, the CPU  11  may check the selection status flags for the image files corresponding to the thumbnails continually touched by the user&#39;s finger for a period exceeding the prescribed interval before starting the continuous selection process of S 41  and the CPU  11  may execute a routine for selecting the image files within the specified range in the continuous selection process (S 53 -S 57 , S 59 ) if the selection status flag for the image file is “unselected”, whereas the CPU  11  may execute a routine for deselecting the image files within the specified range in the continuous selection process (S 53 -S 57 , S 60 ) if the selection status flag for the image file is “selected.” 
     Next, a method of operating the touch panel  17  according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11A-12C . 
       FIGS. 11A-11D  are explanatory diagrams illustrating a method in which the user selects image files by touching two individual thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  with a finger.  FIGS. 12A and 12B  conceptually illustrate the content of the thumbnail list memory area  13   b  that changes according to the operation shown in  FIGS. 11A-11D . 
     The following description assumes that the thumbnail list shown in  FIG. 12A  is stored in the thumbnail list memory area  13   b . Since all selection status flags of the thumbnail list set to “unselected” as shown in  FIG. 12A , all thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  are in the unselected state as shown in  FIG. 11A . 
     If the user touches the thumbnail at display position number “B 3 ” for at least a prescribed interval (1 second, for example), as shown in  FIG. 11A , the display position number “B 3 ” is stored in both the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  and the temporary selection list memory area  13   c . Hence, the thumbnail for the image file corresponding to the display position number “B 3 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  is displayed on the LCD  16  in the temporarily selected state, as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
     If the user then lifts the finger from the touch panel  17  and subsequently touches the thumbnail at display position number “C 4 ”, as shown in  FIG. 11C , the display position number “C 4 ” is stored in the temporary selection ending position memory area  13   e . Accordingly, display position numbers “B 3 -B 6 , C 1 -C 4 ” from the display position number “B 3 ” stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  to the display position number “C 4 ” stored in the temporary selection ending position memory area  13   e  are all stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c.    
     Hence, all selection status flags for the display position numbers “B 3 -B 6 , C 1 -C 4 ” stored in the temporary selection list memory area  13   c  are set to “selected” in the thumbnail list because the selection status flag for the image file corresponding to the display position number “B 3 ” stored in the temporary selection starting position memory area  13   d  is set to “unselected” in the thumbnail list. Consequently, thumbnails for image files having a selection status flag set to “selected” are displayed on the LCD  16  in the selected state, as shown in  FIG. 11D . 
     In the second embodiment described above, the user can perform a simple operation to touch two thumbnails individually among the thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16  to specify image files for all display position numbers ranging sequentially from the display position number of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail to the display position of the image file corresponding to the next touched thumbnail in order to select or deselect all image files within the specified range. 
     Here, selection status flags for all image files within the specified range are set to “selected” when the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail is “unselected” and set to “unselected” when the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail is “selected.” In other words, the selection status flags of image files within the specified range are set based on the setting of the selection status flag associated with the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail, thereby making the operation simpler and more user-friendly. 
     While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the attached claims. 
     For example, in the second embodiment described above, the continuous selection process of S 41  shown in  FIG. 10  is executed when the user presses and holds an initial thumbnail among thumbnails displayed on the LCD  16 . However, as shown in  FIG. 12C , it is also possible to provide a Continuous Selection Mode button on the display and execute the continuous selection process of S 41  when the user touches this Continuous Selection Mode button. In the continuous selection process in this case, all image files having display position numbers ranging in succession from the display position number for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail to the display position number for the image file corresponding to the next touched thumbnail are specified and all specified image files are selected or deselected. 
     Further, in the first embodiment described above, thumbnails for user-selected image files remain displayed on the LCD  16  in the temporarily selected state while the user&#39;s finger is in contact with the touch panel  17 . However, two types or patterns of temporarily selected states may be used so that the user can visually determine whether the image files are selected or unselected. In other words, the style of the temporarily selected state of thumbnails displayed on the touch panel  17  is switched based on the selection status flag setting for the image file corresponding to the first touched thumbnail. 
     In both the first and second embodiments described above, image data stored in the memory card  22   a  is used as the target of selection, but the user may also select image data generated by the scanner  20  or image data acquired from a PC, external hard drive, or the like. 
     Further, while the MFP  1  having an image-selecting device was described in the first and second embodiments, the image-selecting device of the present invention is not limited to that in a multifunction peripheral. The present invention may also be applied to an image-selecting device provided in a digital still camera or the like. 
     Instead of the display position number, the file name of the image file corresponding to the display position number may be stored in the temporary selection starting position memory  13   d  so that the selection status of the selection status flag of the image file corresponding to the temporary selection starting position may be referred based on the file name. 
     The selection status of the selection status flag of the image file that corresponds to the thumbnail that the user touches before the temporary selection process is started may be stored and directly referred to.