Patent ID: 7599906

Claim:
A file managing apparatus for displaying a catalog of files indicating thumbnail images and extracted text on a display unit, based on an index file recorded on a recording medium and managing files recorded on the recording medium by resorting to the index file recorded on said recording medium, in which an entry for temporary management is provided so that a file to be deleted is stored temporarily thereunder; wherein said index file is made up of a text entry file formed of entries of extracted text, an image entry file formed of entries of thumbnail images, and a property entry file formed of entries of properties for managing the entries of thumbnail image and the entries of extracted text, the thumbnail images being arranged to correspond with said files; wherein the property entry file further includes hierarchy management information which expresses a hierarchical structure of said files recorded on said recording medium; wherein in said property group, entries concerning said files are furnished with entry-related management information which indicates relation between the entries of thumbnail images and the entries of extracted text based on the files from which the thumbnail images and the extracted text are extracted, and with file-related management information which shows relation between the files and the entries of thumbnail images and extracted text which correspond to the files; wherein, when deletion of said file is instructed using the catalog of said files indicating the thumbnail images and the extracted text, displayed based on the index file, said file managing apparatus changes, with keeping said entry-related management information and said file-related management information which is set for said file to be deleted unchanged, the hierarchy management information, which is set for the entry of said file to be deleted, in such a manner that said hierarchy management information points to said entry for temporary management; wherein the display unit displays the thumbnail image and the extracted text about said entry furnished with said hierarchy management information which has been changed so as to point to said entry for temporary management, and wherein said file managing apparatus changes said hierarchy management information so as to point to a predetermined entry, when an instruction is given to restore said file associated with the entry furnished with said hierarchy management information which has been changed to point to said entry for temporary management.