Managing files shared by users

摘要

A file managing system manages files shared by users. The files are linked to each other, and are controlled in accordance with link information. File control information is defined to represent rights given to each user, who is permitted to perform processing which corresponds to rights the status of which is in an on-state. The file control information is produced for each file. Link control information representing links between files is defined, and includes information which represents whether users are permitted to use the links. The link control information is produced for each file. The access of each user to the files and the access of each user to the links are controlled in accordance with the file control information and the link control information. The link control information may further include propagation information which controls whether processing performed on a first file is performed also on a second file.