Abstract: In a client-server environment in which a plurality of clients are connected on a network, a manager of a company displays an approval request list window (07-01-00) in which a list of purchase-requested articles is displayed, on a client by a predetermined operation, selects a desired article from the articles displayed in the window, and clicks a software button “approval select” or “rejection select” in accordance with approval or rejection of the selected article. At this time, the article for which approval is selected can be formally ordered.

Abstract: A search condition is accepted (S803), a search module which matches that search condition is generated (S809), and a database is searched for data (S810, S811, S812). The database search results by the search modules are acquired (S813), and are saved in a memory (S815). This invention allows to efficiently search distributed databases for required data alone.

Abstract: In an existing or new client/server system environment in which a plurality of clients are connected on a network, a function of specifying (selecting) a desired article by a requester, a function of requesting an approver to approve purchase of the specified article, and a function of determining approval or rejection for purchase of the approval-requested article by the approver are realized. A user logs in to this system as a requester or approver from a predetermined Web page displayed on the client in accordance with the user (employee) ID. A user who has logged in as an approver can also use the article specifying function and approval request function.

Abstract: A search condition is accepted (S803), a search module which matches that search condition is generated (S809), and a database is searched for data (S810, S811, S812). The database search results by the search modules are acquired (S813), and are saved in a memory (S815). This invention allows to efficiently search distributed databases for required data alone.