Patent ID: 7178110

Claim:
A file processing apparatus comprising: file display means for displaying folders for selection in a folder selection region, and for displaying a plurality of predetermined data files including image files and text files in a predetermined file display region as icons, wherein when a folder in the folder selection region is selected then files from the selected folder are displayed by the file display means in the file display region as icons; selected file storage means, in response to a selection request with regard to a predetermined file displayed in the file display region, for storing a selected file; selected file display means for displaying the selected file in a predetermined selected display region as an icon; process execution means, in response to a predetermined process request, for subjecting a file stored by the selected file storage means to a predetermined process; wherein a display screen of the file processing apparatus is divided into at least four different areas at a given point in time so as to include each of the file display region, the folder selection region, the selected display region, and a process display region, so that the display screen simultaneously displays each of the following at the given point in time: (a) the folders for selection in the folder selection region, (b) the icons of the plurality of predetermined files in the file display region which are from selected folder(s) from the folder selection region, the file display region being different than the folder selection region, (c) at least the selected file in the selected display region which is different than the file display region, and (d) process icons in the process display region indicative of processes that the selected file can be subjected to; and wherein a user can select files from a first folder when the first folder is selected in the folder selection region, and can thereafter select different files from a second folder when the second folder is selected in the folder selection region, so that the selected files from the first folder and the selected files from the second folder are displayed simultaneously in the selected display region and can be subjected to processing together when a process icon in the process display region is selected.