Patent Publication Number: US-7584413-B2

Title: Electronic document binder builder

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus for composing an integrated electronic document from a plurality of kinds of electronic source documents, a method therefor, and a computer-readable memory. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Business entities try to promote reuse of documents by introducing a document management system. Products at early stage receive a paper document as an image using a scanner and registers and saves the image. Recently, many electronic documents are created by personal computers, and even they can also be registered and saved. In addition, recently, arbitrary pages can be extracted from a plurality of registered electronic documents and bound like a binder to form one electronic document. This will be referred to as an electronic binder hereinafter. 
   To realize such an electronic binder, conventionally, a plurality of different electronic documents are temporarily converted into a unitary electronic document format, and the converted electronic documents are edited to compose a desired generated electronic document. In this method, new electronic documents, which are completely separated from electronic source documents as materials, are edited to compose a generated electronic document. When the electronic source documents are changed, the changed electronic source documents are temporarily deleted from the generated electronic document, and then the changed electronic source documents are input again. If the degree of editing is high, a considerable labor for delete, move, and the like or many errors occur. As described above, if a material and generated document are completely separated, a labor is required to restore the original document. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide an information processing apparatus capable of creating one integrated electronic document from a plurality of different electronic source documents and easily editing the electronic document while maintaining the relationship between the electronic source documents and the integrated electronic document, a method therefor, and a computer-readable memory. 
   According to the present invention, the foregoing object is attained by providing an information processing apparatus for composing an integrated electronic document composed of a plurality of kinds of electronic source documents, comprising: 
   holding means for holding the plurality of kinds of electronic source documents; 
   selection means for selecting a desired electronic source document page from electronic source document pages of the plurality of kinds of electronic source documents held by said holding means; 
   composition means for composing the integrated electronic document on the basis of the electronic source document page selected by said selection means; 
   editing means for editing each page of the integrated electronic document; and 
   control means for controlling the compositions of the electronic source documents and integrated electronic document on the basis of an editing result by said editing means. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing the concept of a document management system according to an embodiment; 
       FIG. 2A  is a view showing the format block structure of a generated electronic document composed by an electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 2B  is a view showing an example of XML description of the generated electronic document composed by the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 3A  is a view showing the format block structure of another generated electronic document composed by the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 3B  is a view showing the format block structure of still another generated electronic document composed by the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing the arrangement of folders and files of the generated electronic document of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 5  is a view showing operation windows related to processing of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing generated electronic document creation processing of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing an operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 10A  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 10B  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 10C  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 11  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 12  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 13  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 14  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 15  is a flow chart showing generated electronic document edit processing of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 16  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 17  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 18  is a view showing the correlation in rotation of a thumbnail image; 
       FIG. 19  is a view showing still another operation example of the electronic binder builder of the embodiment; 
       FIG. 20A  is a view showing an operation example of an electronic binder builder according to Another Embodiment 1; 
       FIG. 20B  is a view showing the format block structure of a generated electronic document composed by the electronic binder builder of Another Embodiment 1; 
       FIG. 21  is a flow chart showing processing of adding an electronic source document page to a generated electronic document of Another Embodiment 2; and 
       FIG. 22  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an information processing apparatus applicable to the document management system of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a view showing the concept of a document management system according to an embodiment. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  101  denotes electronic documents created by different application software programs. Assume that the electronic documents include electronic document  1  created by Microsoft Word, electronic document  2  created by Microsoft PowerPoint, and electronic document  3  having an HTML format which is used by an image read with a scanner or in the Internet. An electronic binder builder (e-binder builder)  102  can bind pages of the electronic documents  1  to  3  to compose one generated electronic document  103 . 
   An example of the generated electronic document composed by the electronic binder builder  102  of the document management system of this embodiment will be described next with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
     FIG. 2A  is a view showing the format block structure of a generated electronic document composed by the electronic binder builder of the embodiment, and  FIG. 2B  is a view showing a detailed example of XML description thereof. 
   In the present invention, a generated electronic document is composed using an XML (extensional Markup Language) description. A generated electronic document is composed of a plurality of kinds of electronic source documents created by different application software programs. As the basic composition, a document E-Binder.xml is formed as a Top description, a predetermined description is done therein, and elements (contents) such as relational files are indicated by external link. The locations of the elements indicated by the external link must be known.  FIG. 4  shows the arrangement of folders and files of the generated electronic document. The holding positions of the external link elements can be known as relative positions from E-Binder.xml as the Top document. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2B , &lt;?xml version=“1.0” encoding=“Shift_JIS”?&gt; is the description of declaration at the start. 
   An EBINDER portion ( 201 ) in  FIG. 2A  indicates the start of the document. A portion between &lt;EBINDER&gt; and &lt;/EBIDNER&gt; in  FIG. 2B  is the main body of the document. 
   An EBINDER_INFOR portion ( 202 ) in  FIG. 2A  is a portion that holds the meta information (management information) of the document. A portion between &lt;EBINDER_INFO&gt; and &lt;/EBINDER_INFO&gt; holds the meta information. Especially, pieces of meta information &lt;TITLE&gt; to &lt;/TITLE&gt; representing the file name, &lt;CREATOR&gt; to &lt;/CREATOR&gt; representing the creator name, and &lt;DATE&gt; to &lt;/DATE&gt; representing the date of creation are held here. 
   A MATERIAL portion ( 203 ) in  FIG. 2A  is a portion that holds the information of electronic source documents. A portion between &lt;MATERIAL files=“2”&gt; and &lt;/MATERIAL&gt; holds the information, in which files= indicates the number of electronic source documents, and two files are held here. 
   An EFILE portion ( 204 ) in  FIG. 2A  is a portion that holds the information of one electronic source document, i.e., the information obtained by converting an electronic source document into electronic document pages. A portion between &lt;EFILE href=“office¥ppt0000¥F_c01.ppt” composedpagefile=“pimg¥efile00001.pdf” type=“pdf” totalpage=“2” id=“ef0001”&gt; and &lt;/EFILE&gt; holds the information. Hereinafter, “¥” corresponds to “\” (backslash). Here, href= indicates the link information of the electronic source document, composedpagefile= indicates the link information of a file in which the pages of the electronic source document are put together, and type= indicates the file format. In this example, the PDF format of Adobe is indicated. Alternatively, MultiPageTIFF or the like, that is a format capable of storing a plurality of images, can be set. In addition, totalpage= indicates the number of pages of the electronic source document, and id= indicates the identification number. 
   An EFILE_INFO portion ( 205 ) in the EFILE portion ( 204 ) shown in  FIG. 2A  holds the management information of an electronic source document. A portion between &lt;EFILE_INFO datatype=“PowerPoint2000”&gt; and &lt;/EFILE_INFO&gt; holds the management information. In this case, datatype= indicates the type of the electronic source document, which represents PowerPoint2000. &lt;TITLE&gt; to &lt;/TITLE&gt; representing the file name and &lt;CREATOR&gt; and &lt;/CREATOR&gt; representing the creator name hold the management information. 
   A DOC_SUMMARY portion ( 206 ) in  FIG. 2A  holds the summary information of an electronic source document. This portion holds a text obtained by summarizing a full text using a summarizing engine so that the summary of the material contents can be known. This portion is omitted in  FIG. 2B . 
   An EPAGES portion ( 207 ) in  FIG. 2A  saves documents (electronic source document pages) obtained by changing an electronic source document into information pages. For example, for the electronic source document of Word, pages are determined only in displaying or printing the document. The EPAGES portion ( 207 ) saves the determined electronic source document pages. A portion between &lt;EPAGE&gt; and &lt;/EPAGE&gt; saves electronic source document pages. Actually, the following &lt;EPAGE . . . /&gt; portion such as &lt;EPAGE page=“1” thumbnail=“Material¥ef0000¥thumb1.bmp”/&gt; or &lt;EPAGE page=“2” thumbnail=“Material¥ef0000¥thumb2.bmp”/&gt; holds an electronic source document page. Here, page= is information representing the ordinal number of a page in the entire electronic source document, and thumbnail= is information that holds the thumbnail image (reduced image) of the page. The next description also indicates the information of the electronic source document page. In this way, the page bitmapping information of an electronic source document (the information of an electronic source document page) is held. The bitmapped document of an electronic source document page, e.g., an image bitmapped to A4 size is also held here. 
   &lt;EPAGE page=“1” thumbnail=“Material¥ef0000¥thumb1.bmp” Pagefile=“office¥ppt0000¥page00001.bmp” type=“bmp”/&gt; 
   In this example, pagefile= holds the thumbnail image of the first page, and type= indicates the holding file format. In this example, the electronic source document page is held by an image file format “bmp”. However, PDF or any other compression file format may be used. The necessary condition is that each page of a document can be held. The number of &lt;EPAGE . . . /&gt; portions is determined by the number of pages of an electronic source document. 
     FIG. 3A  is a view showing the format block structure of another generated electronic document in which necessary electronic source document pages are selected from electronic source documents and held. 
   A PAGEINDEX portion ( 301 ) in  FIG. 3A  holds information that indicates the position of each page-bitmapped portion of electronic source documents. For a generated electronic document, the ids and page numbers of electronic source documents are managed, and page images are read out in that order, thereby composing a continuous electronic document. A portion between &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; and &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt; in the description example shown in  FIG. 2B  is a description for managing and saving the pages of the generated electronic document. In this portion, 
   &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3” /&gt; 
   &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt;and the like are described. Each &lt;INDEX . . . /&gt; indicates a page of the generated electronic document. Here, page= indicates a page of the generated electronic document, idref= indicates the id of an electronic source document, and efilepage= indicates a use page number of the electronic source document corresponding to id. In the above description example, pages separately designated from two electronic source documents are used. 
   The format block structure of a generated electronic document described above can simultaneously save electronic source documents, electronic source document pages, and generated electronic document. Hence, in editing, the original electronic documents of the electronic source documents can be referred to, and pages can be replaced again. An electronic source document page can be an imaged document or a document with the PDF or XML format. The format can be switched in accordance with the software environment for forming electronic source document pages. 
   Operation windows related to processing of the electronic binder builder  102  will be described next with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 5  is a view showing operation windows related to processing of the electronic binder builder of this embodiment. 
   Reference numeral  501  denotes a document management software window;  502 , a file management window managed on the OS of the computer;  503 , a software (e-binder builder) window of the electronic binder builder  102 ;  504 , collection windows for managing an electronic source documents, respectively;  505 , a composed window for managing a generated electronic document; and  506 , a display software (viewer) window for displaying a generated electronic document. 
   Generated electronic document creation processing will be described next with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     FIG. 6  is a flow chart showing generated electronic document creation processing of the embodiment. 
   First, in step S 601 , an electronic source document is selected from the file management window  502 . In step S 602 , the selected electronic source document is moved to the software window  503  of the electronic binder builder  102  by drag &amp; drop. In this operation, the file is moved using a mouse as indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 5 . In step S 603 , thumbnail images are created from the moved file and displayed on the collection window  504 . In this operation, the creation software for the electronic source document opens the document, executes pseudo printing operation, and creates files (electronic source document pages) with which the respective pages of the document can be processed. For example, when software ImageDriver is used, page images can be created. Thumbnail images can also be simultaneously created. In step S 603 , the created thumbnail images are displayed. In actually creating a file, the link destination (address) of an electronic source document is described by href= in &lt;EFILE href=”. . . &gt; between &lt;MATERIAL&gt; and &lt;/MATERIAL&gt; shown in  FIG. 2B , and each thumbnail image is held by thumbnail= in &lt;EPAGE page=“1” thumbnail=“. . . ¥thumb1.bmp”/&gt;. The same operation is also executed to move a plurality of electronic source document pages. 
   In step S 604 , thumbnail images on the collection windows  504  are selected and moved to the composed window  505  by drag &amp; drop. In this operation, the thumbnail images of electronic source document pages which are necessary for a final generated electronic document are selected from the collection windows  504  and moved to the composed window  505  where the generated electronic document is composed, thereby preparing the pages. 
   In step S 605 , the thumbnail images of the generated electronic document are displayed on the composed window  505 . In this operation, the thumbnail images moved in step S 604  are displayed at designated positions where the images have been dropped. 
   When this processing is ended, a generated electronic document composed of necessary pages of electronic source documents can be composed. 
   A detailed example in which the thumbnail image of a necessary electronic source document page is selected from the collection window  504  and moved to the composed window  505  where a generated electronic document is composed will be described next with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , reference numeral  701  denotes each electronic source document page selected from the corresponding electronic source document on the collection window  504 ; and  702 , a state wherein the electronic source document pages  701  are moved to the pages of the generated electronic document on the composed window  505 . 
   This state will be described with reference to  FIG. 2B . A description shown in  FIG. 2B   
                                          &lt;EFILE...&gt;            &lt;EPAGES&gt;            &lt;EPAGE page=“1”           thumbnail=“Material¥ef0000¥thum1.bmp”/&gt;            ......            &lt;/EPAGES&gt;           &lt;/EFILE&gt;           ......           &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt;            &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt;            &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt;            &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt;           &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt;                        
includes between &lt;EPAGE . . . &gt; and &lt;/EPAGE&gt; descriptions representing that thumbnail images are held. This indicates thumbnail images displayed on the collection window  504 . The portion between &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; and &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt; contains the page information of the thumbnail images displayed on the composed window  505 . Instead of holding the entities of the thumbnail images, file names and pages in electronic source documents are indicated. For example, &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3” /&gt; means that the id of an electronic source document is designated, and the third page of the file is used as the first page of the generated electronic document.
 
   As described above, the electronic binder builder  102  can select necessary electronic source document pages from electronic source documents with different formats and re-edit them. Especially, as a characteristic feature in composing a generated electronic document, an original electronic source document used to generate a page can be found by link and operation can be performed for each electronic source document page. 
   A detailed example in which an electronic source document saved on the collection window  504  is moved to the composed window  505  will be described next with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a state wherein two electronic source documents are input to the software window  503  of the electronic binder builder  102  and respectively held on collection windows  504   a  and  504   b.    
   Reference numeral  801  denotes a selected thumbnail image of a page of electronic source document  1 ; and  802 , a selected thumbnail image of a page of electronic source document  2 . When these thumbnail images are moved to the composed window  505 , the thumbnail images are displayed in the order of selection. In this case, as the thumbnail images  801  and  802  are selected in this order, thumbnail images  803  and  804  are displayed on the composed window  505 . 
     FIG. 9  shows a detailed example in which when a thumbnail image  901  of another page of the electronic source document on the collection window  504  is moved by drag &amp; drop to a position between the two thumbnail images displayed on the composed window  505 , the thumbnail image  901  is inserted between the two thumbnail images as a thumbnail image  902 . With this operation, the total number of pages is incremented by one. 
     FIGS. 10A to 10C  show detailed examples which indicate that the pages of the generated electronic document generated by moving thumbnail images on the collection window  504  to the composed window  505  are laid out in the order of selection of electronic source document pages. 
     FIG. 10A  shows a state wherein thumbnail images  1002  and  1001  on the collection window  504   a  are selected in the selection order shown in  FIG. 10A . When the thumbnail images  1002  and  1001  are moved to the composed window  505  in the selection order shown in  FIG. 10A , the thumbnail images are laid out on the composed window  505  in that selection order. 
     FIG. 10B  shows a state wherein thumbnail images  1003  and  1004  on the collection window  504   a  are simultaneously selected. When the thumbnail images  1003  and  1004  are moved to the composed window  505 , the thumbnail images are laid out in the order of pages of the electronic source document. 
     FIG. 10C  shows a state wherein thumbnail images are selected from a plurality of electronic source documents, i.e., a thumbnail image  1005  on the collection window  504   a  and a thumbnail image  1006  on the collection window  504   b  are selected in the selection order shown in  FIG. 10C . When the thumbnail images  1005  and  1006  shown in  FIG. 10C  are moved to the composed window  505 , the thumbnail images are laid out on the composed window  505  in that selection order. Batch selection of thumbnail images from a plurality of electronic source documents is inhibited, or a priority order is set for electronic source documents such that thumbnail images are laid out on the composed window  505  in accordance with the priority order. 
     FIG. 11  shows a detailed example in which an original electronic source document from which a thumbnail image has been moved to the composed window  505  is indicated. When the thumbnail images of ⅓ and ⅔ pages on the composed window  505  are selected, a thumbnail image  1101  on the collection window  504   a  and a thumbnail image  1102  on the collection window  504   b , which correspond to the thumbnail images on the composed window  505 , are displayed as frames or semitransparent images, thereby indicating that the thumbnail images are being selected. 
   Since the identification number and page number of electronic source document are described in &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; in &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt;, each page of the electronic source document can be traced. 
     FIG. 12  shows a detailed example in which the pages of thumbnail images saved on the composed window  505  are replaced. In this example, a thumbnail image  1201  of 2/4 page is moved next to the thumbnail image on the right side by drag &amp; drop, the thumbnail image  1201  replaces the adjacent thumbnail image and is displayed as a thumbnail image  1202 . 
   With this operation, a description 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“4” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“4”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
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               changes to 
             
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt;   
             
             
                 
                 &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt;   
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“4” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“4”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
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   The description is edited as indicated by the underlines. 
     FIG. 13  shows a detailed example in which a plurality of thumbnail images saved on the composed window  505  are separately selected to replace their pages. The numbers are stored in the selection order, and thumbnail images are directly moved to the designated positions. Reference numerals  1301  and  1302  denote results of movement of selected thumbnail images. In this movement, since the thumbnail images are replaced in the selection order, a forward order is shown in  FIG. 13 . However, when a thumbnail image with a larger page number is selected first, the page layout is reversed after replacement. In the example shown in  FIG. 13 , if the selection order is reversed to 2 and 1, the layout order of the thumbnail images  1301  and  1302  is reversed. 
   The page of a thumbnail image saved on the composed window  505  can also be copied. As in page replacement, a thumbnail image on the composed window  505  is selected. The user instructs “copy” and then “paste” at an arbitrary position on the composed window  505 , thereby copying the selected thumbnail image to that position. 
   When the third page is inserted between the first and second pages of a generated electronic document having three pages, a description 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;PAGE INDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
               changes to 
             
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt;   
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“4” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
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   The description is edited as indicated by the underline. 
   The page of a thumbnail image saved on the composed window  505  can also be deleted. As in page replacement, the user selects a thumbnail image on the composed window  505  and then instructs “delete”, thereby deleting the selected thumbnail image. 
   When the third page of a generated electronic document having three pages is deleted, a description 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
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               changes to 
             
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
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     FIG. 14  shows a detailed example in which an electronic source document which has already been used is re-edited and reused. This detailed example will be described also using the flow chart shown in  FIG. 15 . 
   In step S 1501 , a thumbnail image  1401  of an electronic source document page on the collection window  504  is double-clicked. As a result, in step S 1502 , application software which has created the electronic source document receives the electronic source document containing an electronic source document page  1402  and is activated. 
   In step S 1503 , the electronic source document page is corrected on the application software side. After correction, an electronic source document  1403  corrected on the application software side is overwritten and saved in step S 1504 . As a result of this saving, the electronic binder builder  102  receives a change notification and promotes the user to input an instruction. In step S 1505 , thumbnail creation processing for creating the thumbnail image of the updated electronic source document page is activated. 
   In step S 1506 , the user is inquired about whether the electronic source document page that is currently being used on the composed window  505  is to be updated or deleted. This is because when the electronic source document page is updated, the contents of the page of the electronic source document change, and those on the generated electronic document side must also be changed. 
   When a delete instruction is input, an old thumbnail image  1405  laid out on the composed window  505  is deleted in step S 1508 . In step S 1509 , the display of the old thumbnail image  1401  laid out on the collection window  504  is replaced with a new thumbnail image  1404 . Thus, delete processing is ended. 
   When not a delete instruction but an update instruction is input, in step S 1510 , the position of the old thumbnail image laid out on the composed window  505  is stored, and the old thumbnail image is deleted. In step S 1511 , the display of the old thumbnail image  1401  on the collection window  504  is replaced with a new thumbnail image  1406 . In step S 1512 , a new thumbnail image  1407  is displayed at the stored position on the composed window  505 . 
     FIG. 16  shows a detailed example in which a thumbnail image saved on the composed window  505  is rotated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 16 , two thumbnail images indicated by  1601  are selected. Assume that an instruction of 90° clockwise rotation is input. In this case, although the page direction (portrait) is kept unchanged, the displayed contents are rotated through 90° with respect to the page direction, as indicated by  1602 . An instruction of 90° counterclockwise rotation can also be input. 
     FIG. 17  shows another detailed example in which a thumbnail image saved on the composed window  505  is rotated. 
   Referring to  FIG. 17 , two thumbnail images denoted by  1701  are selected. When an instruction of 180° rotation is input, the selected thumbnail images are rotated through 180°, i.e., upside down, as indicated by  1702 . 
     FIG. 18  is a view showing the correlation in rotation of a thumbnail image in this embodiment. 
   A case wherein the first and second pages of a generated electronic document having three pages are rotated through 90° clockwise will be described below. 
   A description 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
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                &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3” 
             
             
                 
                 rotate=“90”/ &gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2” 
             
             
                 
                 rotate=“90”/ &gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   The description is edited as indicated by the underlines. In this case, rotate= indicates rotation of the page. In this embodiment, the unit of rotation is degree, and clockwise rotation is described by a positive value. The unit may be radian, and counterclockwise rotation may be described by a positive value. If a page is not rotated, like the third page of the above generated electronic document, rotate= is omitted, or rotate=“0” is described. 
   Some formats are used to finally store a generated electronic document by rotation. 
   (1) A format for storing all pieces of information containing the electronic source documents and the generated electronic document 
   (2) A format for storing only the generated electronic document 
   (3) A format for storing only the electronic source documents 
   The above formats will be sequentially described. 
   (1) Format for Storing All Pieces of Information Containing Electronic Source Documents and Generated Electronic Document 
   This is a description format described with reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  with which the information of each electronic source document can be found from the generated electronic document. This state can be represented as follows by a part selected from an XML description. 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;MATERIAL files=“2”&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;EFILE ...&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EPAGES&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EPAGE page=“1” 
             
             
                 
               thumbnail=“Material¥ef0000¥thumb1.bmp” 
             
             
                 
               pagefile=“office¥ppt0000¥page1.tiff” type=TIFF&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 ...... 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EPAGES&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;EFILE ...&gt; ...... 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/EFILE&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/MATERIAL&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
                  &lt;INDEXpage=“1” idref=“efile0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                  &lt;INDEXpage=“2” idref=“efile0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                  &lt;INDEXpage=“3” idref=“efile0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   In this state, the thumbnail images of the respective pages of electronic source documents and document pages used in the generated electronic document are held using an image file format (TIFF) in this example (an intermediate format capable of describing each page, such as PDF or XML/SVG, may be used). Since the pages are designated on the generated electronic document side, all information documents capable of reconstructing the pages are held. Conversely, electronic source document pages on the electronic source document side, which are not designated on the generated electronic document side, need not always be held because the file size becomes large. In this way, the generated electronic document is stored as a set of a plurality of electronic documents on the electronic source document side and on the generated electronic document side. 
   (2) Format for Storing Only Generated Electronic Document 
   This storing method is used when only the generated electronic document is necessary. 
   In the document with the format (1), the electronic source documents and generated electronic document are integrated. When pieces of information of electronic source document pages are collected to a Bookbinding portion ( 303 ) shown in  FIG. 3B , the electronic source document pages are completely extracted from the electronic source documents and held. This state can be represented as follows by a part selected from an XML description. 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;MATERIAL files=“2”&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;EFILE...&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;EPAGES&gt; ...... 
             
             
                 
               &lt;EPAGES&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/EFILE&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;EFILE&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/EFILE&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/MATERIAL&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;INDEX page=“1” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“3”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;INDEX page=“2” idref=“ef0001” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;INDEX page=“3” idref=“ef0002” efilepage=“2”/&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/PAGEINDEX&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;BOOKBINDING href=“bind¥bind.tiff type=“tiff”&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;EPAGE page=“1” thumbnail=“bind¥page1.png”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;BPAGE page=“2” thumbnail=“bind¥page2.png”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;BPAGE page=“3” thumbnai1=“bind¥page3.png”/&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;/BOOKBINDING&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   In this format, the portion between &lt;BOOKBINDING href=“bind¥bind.tiff type=“tiff”&gt; and &lt;/BOOKBINDING&gt; is added, and in this state, the generated electronic document composed of electronic source document pages is stored in one file format. In the example, the generated electronic document is stored as a file bind.tiff in which images of a plurality of pages are bound (bind.pdf or bind.xml may also be used). The thumbnail images of the respective pages are described by &lt;BPAGE page=“1” thumbnail=“bind¥page1.png”/&gt; and the like. This means that thumbnail images used in electronic source documents are copied and subordinated to the generated electronic document. A complete state on the generated electronic document side means a state wherein all the thumbnail images are complete. At this time, information sandwiched between &lt;MATERIAL&gt; and &lt;/MATERIAL&gt; or between &lt;EFILES&gt; and &lt;/EFILES&gt; can be omitted. 
   Hence, the above description can be simplified to 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;BOOKBINDING href=“bind¥bind.tiff” type=“tiff”&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
               &lt;BPAGE page=“1” thumbnail=“bind¥page1.png”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;BPAGE page=“2” thumbnail=“bind¥page2.png”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;BPAGE page=“3” thumbnail=“bind¥page3.png”/&gt; 
             
          
         
         
             
             
          
             
                 
                &lt;/BOOKBINDING&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   More simply, only the bind.tiff file may be stored. This description is used when only a file binding page is to be simply acquired. 
   (3) Format for Storing Only Electronic Source Documents 
   This format stores only electronic source documents. An electronic source document temporarily moved to the electronic binder builder  102  side holds its original document and the thumbnail images of the respective pages. This state can be represented as follows by a part selected from an XML description. 
   
     
       
         
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               &lt;EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;EBINDER_INFO&gt; ...... 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/EBINDER_INFO&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;MATERIAL files=“2&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EFILE href=“office¥ppt0000¥F_c01.ppt” 
             
             
                 
               composedpagefile=“pimg¥efile0001.pdf” type=“pdf” 
             
             
                 
               totalpage=“2” id=“ef0001” 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EFILE_INFO datatype=“PowerPoint2000”&gt; ...... 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;/EFILE_INFO&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EPAGES&gt; 
             
             
                 
                  &lt;EPAGE page=“1” 
             
             
                 
               thumbnail=“Material¥ef0000¥thumb1.bmp”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                  &lt;EPAGE page=“2” thumbnail=“Material 
             
             
                 
               ¥ef0000¥thumb2.bmp”/&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;/EPAGES&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;/EFILE&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;EFILE href=“office¥word0000¥28J_App1HTML.doc” 
             
             
                 
               composedpaqefile=“pimg¥efile0002.pdf” type=“pdf” 
             
             
                 
               totalpage=“3” id=“ef0002” 
             
             
                 
               &lt;EFILE_INFO datatype=“PowerPoint2000”&gt; ...... 
             
             
                 
                 &lt;/EFILE_INFO&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/EFILE&gt; 
             
             
                 
                &lt;/MATERIAL&gt; 
             
             
                 
               &lt;/EBINDER&gt; 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   In this example, only the electronic source documents are stored, and the generated electronic document is not stored. This format is often used to temporarily stop building a generated electronic document and store it. Alternatively, when an original electronic document is changed by the electronic binder builder  102  or when only the original electronic document of corrected version is necessary, only the electronic document described by href=“office¥ppt0000¥F_c01.ppt” is extracted and stored. 
   The three formats have been described above.  FIG. 19  shows a detailed example, and this will be described below. 
   Referring to  FIG. 19 , reference numeral  1901  denotes a state wherein a generated electronic document is created on the composed window  505 . In the document management system, when this state is directly stored, a binder mark is added to the upper right corner, as indicated by  1902 , to represent a form of a composite document. On the document management system side, the thumbnail image of the generated electronic document is displayed, and the user is notified of the presence of electronic source documents by the binder mark. When the generated electronic document is stored in a file management window  1903  on a normal OS, the generated electronic document is stored as a structure with a plurality of files and a plurality of folders, as shown in  FIG. 4 . To confirm the generated electronic document on the normal OS, a method of confirming two files, E-Binder.xml and style sheet E-Binder.xsl, using a browser is generally used. The bound generated electronic document in the Bookbinding folder may be directly browsed. In either case, linked files can be obtained. 
   As described above, according to this embodiment, one integrated electronic document (generated electronic document) is created from a plurality of different electronic documents (electronic source documents), and the documents are closely bound. That is, a document structure in which the relationship between the electronic source documents and the generated electronic document is provided. As a result, when an electronic source document is changed, the generated electronic document can also be changed. 
   Another Embodiment 1 
     FIGS. 20A and 20B  show a structure with a plurality of generated electronic documents. Especially,  FIG. 20A  shows a detailed example. Reference numerals  2001  and  2002  denote composed windows for operating generated electronic documents.  FIG. 20B  is a view showing the format block structure of generated electronic documents corresponding to  FIG. 20A . In this embodiment, a plurality of PageIndex portions are prepared. With this structure, the plurality of composed windows  2001  and  2002  are laid out, as shown in  FIG. 20A , and a plurality of generated electronic documents can be created. Reference numerals  2003  and  2004  in  FIG. 20B  denote structures in which a plurality of generated electronic documents are held. For example, confidential and unconfidential documents can be separated by changing the cover. 
   As described above, according to Another Embodiment 1, since a plurality of generated electronic documents can be created, generated electronic documents with different compositions can be created from common electronic source documents. For example, generated electronic documents with slightly different contents can be created for the respective distribution destinations. 
   Another Embodiment 2 
   In Another Embodiment 2, processing of adding an electronic source document page to a generated electronic document in creating the generated electronic document from a plurality of electronic source documents will be described with reference to  FIG. 21 . 
     FIG. 21  is a flow chart showing processing of adding an electronic source document page to a generated electronic document of Another Embodiment 2. 
   In step S 1101 , a thumbnail image to be added to a composed window  505  is selected from a collection window  504  and moved to a desired adding position on the composed window  505  by drag &amp; drop. 
   It is determined in step S 1102  whether a page (thumbnail image) is present before or after the desired adding position. The relative position used in this determination, “before” or “after”, is preset. In this embodiment, it is determined in step S 1102  whether a page is present before the desired adding position (the relative position is “before”). However, it may be determined whether a page is present after the desired adding position. 
   If a page is present before the desired adding position (YES in step S 1102 ), the flow advances to step S 1103 . 
   If no page is present before the desired adding position (NO in step S 1102 ), the flow advances to step S 1106  to lay out the thumbnail image to the desired adding position on the composed window  505 . In this case, the direction of the electronic source document page corresponding to the thumbnail image is not changed. 
   When the desired adding position is at the start of the integrated electronic document, no page is present before the desired adding position. However, when the desired adding position is at the start of the integrated electronic document, it is determined whether a page is present after the desired adding position. 
   Similarly, when the relative position used in the determination is “after”, and the desired adding position is at the end, it is determined whether a page is present before the desired adding position. 
   With this processing, independently of whether the desired adding position is at the start or end of the integrated electronic document, determination in step S 1102  is correctly executed. 
   In step S 1103 , the direction of the page before the desired thumbnail image adding position is checked, and it is determined whether the direction of that page is different from the direction of the electronic source document page corresponding to the thumbnail image to be added. If the direction of the thumbnail image to be added is same as that of the page before the desired adding position (NO in step S 1103 ), the flow advances to step S 1106  to lay out the thumbnail image to the desired adding position on the composed window  505 . If the directions are different (YES in step S 1103 ), the flow advances to step S 1104 . 
   In step S 1104 , rotation processing for the electronic source document page corresponding to the thumbnail image to be added is executed. With this rotation processing, for example, a landscape electronic source document page is rotated through 90° to obtain a portrait electronic source document page. With this processing, the thumbnail image is laid out in the same direction as that of the adjacent page before or after it. 
   In step S 1105 , enlargement/reduction processing (magnification processing) is executed for the rotated electronic source document page such that margins in that direction are minimized. That is, when the rotated image is a portrait image, enlargement/reduction processing (magnification processing) is executed such that the upper and lower margins are minimized. When the rotated image is a landscape image, enlargement/reduction processing (magnification processing) is executed such that the left and right margins are minimized. In the above way, an electronic source document page whose image size is made as large as possible with respect to the direction of the rotated electronic source document page is created. 
   In step S 1106 , a thumbnail image corresponding to the electronic source document page obtained by rotation processing and enlargement/reduction processing (magnification processing) is laid out to the desired adding position on the composed window  505 . 
   As described above, according to Another Embodiment 2, in creating a new generated electronic document by binding a plurality of electronic source document pages in different directions, the directions are automatically aligned to make an appropriate format. Hence, a generated electronic document easy to read can be composed. 
   An information processing apparatus applicable to the above-described document management system of each embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 22 . 
     FIG. 22  is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the information processing apparatus applicable to the document management system of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 22 , a CPU  101  controls an entire information processing apparatus  1000  through a main bus  106  and also controls through an input I/F (interface)  104  an input device  110  (e.g., an image scanner, storage device, another information processing apparatus connected through a network line, or a facsimile apparatus connected through a telephone line) externally connected to the information processing apparatus  1000 . The CPU  101  also controls through an output I/F (interface)  105  an output device  111  (e.g., a printer, monitor, another information processing apparatus connected through a network line, or a facsimile apparatus connected through a telephone line) externally connected to the information processing apparatus  1000 . The CPU  101  executes a series of processing operations such as image input, image processing, color conversion processing, and image output control in accordance with an instruction input from an input section (e.g., a keyboard  112 , pointing device  113 , or pen  114 ) through a KBD I/F (keyboard interface)  107 . The CPU  101  also controls through a video I/F (interface)  108  a display section  109  for displaying image data input from the input device  110  or image data created using the keyboard  112 , pointing device  113 , or pen  114 . 
   A ROM  102  stores various control programs for executing various control operations of the CPU  101 . An OS and control programs including a control program for implementing the present invention are loaded to a RAM  103  and executed by the CPU  101 . The RAM  103  also functions as various work areas used to execute the control programs or temporary save area. In addition, a VRAM (not shown) for temporarily holding image data input from the input device  110  or image data created using the keyboard  112 , pointing device  113 , or pen  114  is constructed. 
   The present invention may be applied to either a system constituted by a plurality of devices (e.g., a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, and the like) or an apparatus comprising a single device (e.g., a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, or the like). 
   The object of the present invention is achieved even by supplying a storage medium which stores the program codes of software for implementing the functions of the above-described embodiments and causing the computer (or a CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus to read out and execute the program codes stored in the storage medium. 
   In this case, the program codes read out from the storage medium implement the functions of the above-described embodiments by themselves, and the storage medium which stores the program codes constitutes the present invention. 
   As the storage medium for supplying the program codes, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magnetooptical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used. 
   The functions of the above-described embodiments are implemented not only when the readout program codes are executed by the computer but also when the operating system (OS) running on the computer performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the program codes. 
   The functions of the above-described embodiments are also implemented when the program codes read out from the storage medium are written in the memory of a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, and the CPU of the function expansion board or function expansion unit performs part or all of actual processing on the basis of the instructions of the program codes. 
   When the present invention is applied to the storage medium, it stores program codes corresponding to the above-described flow charts. 
   As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.