Patent ID: 8370403

Claim:
A file management apparatus that operates by executing a file management application, the apparatus comprising: a file selection unit configured to select a plurality of files; a generation unit configured to generate new filenames of the plurality of files selected by said file selection unit in accordance with predetermined rules; a generation list acquisition unit configured to acquire a generation list and a used filename list, wherein the generation list is a list of filenames to be generated by a collaborative application and the used filename list is a list of filenames being used by the collaborative application, and wherein the collaborative application is different from the file management application; a determination unit configured to determine whether any of the new filenames generated by the generation unit are included in at least one of the generation list and the used filename list; a display unit configured to display, from among the new filenames generated by the generation unit, a new filename determined as being included in at least one of the generation list and the used filename list so that a list that includes the new filename is distinguishable; and a character determination unit configured to check whether any of the new filenames include a character not to be used, and wherein the display unit is further configured to display, from among the new filenames generated by the generation unit, a filename including the character not to be used in a manner that is distinguishable.