Abstract: Proposed is a method for naturally and efficiently setting metadata in the daily process of searching for files. On a file search screen, there is provided a function of determining the candidate metadata of a metadata-nonregistered file, and initiating entry of metadata with the candidate metadata having been set. Determination of the candidate metadata is performed with any of the three following methods: a method of designating as a candidate a character string of a matched search keyword described in regular expression, a method of designating as a candidate a file path or a character string in a file that matches a keyword dictionary, and a method of designating as a candidate metadata that frequently appears in metadata-registered files.