Abstract: A comment added to a certain portion in a first document can be automatically re-added to an equivalent position in a second document, and comment transfer processing between documents is automatically performed. Position information of a comment with respect to an old document obtained from an old document comment file is stored in a position information area, and comment contents also obtained from the old document comment file are stored in a comment content area. A character string corresponding to the position information is extracted from an old document file, and is stored in a character string area. A new document file is searched on the basis of the character string stored in the character string area, and position information of the detected character string is stored in a candidate area. One of position information stored in the candidate area is selected according to a predetermined rule, and the selected position information is stored in a new position information area.

Abstract: A document editing apparatus for editing a document in which document elements are in a nested structure. A portion appointing device appoints a portion of the document into which a document element is to be inserted, and an alternative element insertion process inserts an alternative element into the appointed portion of the document. An alternative element developing process substitutes an appointed document element for the alternative element, and the appoint document element is stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A document processing apparatus which permits the sharing of a document element in a document structure while ensuring that any change to the content appears in the document element in each document sharing it. In a document processing apparatus for managing a plurality of documents each containing a plurality of document elements, a document element having content to be shared with a second document is designated from a plurality of document elements of a first document, and the content of the designated document element is defined as the content of a predetermined document element of the second document to be shared as common content by the first and second documents. Further, any document element having shared content is detected from a document when the display of the document is commanded, and is displayed in a distinguishable manner from other portions.

Abstract: In storing data, a first code is generated by converting a password and some predetermined portion of the data itself (e.g., all of the data itself, or a time stamp) in a predetermined procedure. The first code is then stored in correspondence to the data. Thereafter, in reading the stored data, a second code is generated by converting the password and the same predetermined portion of the stored data, using the same predetermined procedure, and the resulting second code is compared with the first code stored in correspondence to the stored data. A determination is made that a rewrite has occurred, if the two codes do not match. Subsequent data processing may be controlled in accordance with the result of this determination.

Abstract: In storing data in one file, consisting of a plurality of blocks of data, a first code is generated by converting a password and a predetermined portion of each of the blocks of data. This portion may be, for example, the data block itself or identification information such as a name. The code is stored in correspondence to the stored data. In reading the stored data, a second code is generated by performing the same conversion on the password and the predetermined portion of the stored data. A comparison is made between the generated second code and the first code stored. Failure of the two to match indicates that an improper rewrite has occurred. In such a case, that occurrence may simply be noted, access to the data may be prohibited; more generally, what processing is performed, or is permitted, is varied according to the result of the comparison.

Abstract: A method of discriminating, for each first level partial data, whether or not saved data, one file of which is composed of a plurality of the first level partial data and each of the first level partial data is able to include a second level partial data, has been unjustifiably rewritten. The method includes the steps of at a time of saving a file, designating a first level partial data on the basis of a user instruction, receiving a password from a user, converting the received password and the designated first level partial data, which includes second level partial data, according to a predetermined procedure to generate a first code and saving the file with storing of the first code to correspond to the designated first level partial data.