Method, apparatus, and program for retrieving data

1. A method for retrieving data from a database, comprising:

displaying data including a plurality of attributes;

selecting a plurality of segments from the displayed data;

determining an attribute of each of the plurality of segments, wherein an attribute of a first one of the plurality of segments is a text attribute, and an attribute of a second one of the plurality of segments is a non-text attribute;

setting a first search key and a second search key, wherein text data corresponding to the text attribute of the first one of the plurality of segments is set as the first search key, and non-text data corresponding to the non-text attribute of the second one of the plurality of segments is extracted and set as the second search key;

setting a search expression using the plurality of segments, and a logic operator, wherein the logic operator corresponding to a predetermined path drawn by a pointing operation is set in the setting step; and

searching the database, based on the first search key and the second search key, by using a search method corresponding to the first search key and the second search key, respectively,

wherein the non-text attribute comprises at least one of an image, a photograph, a table, graphics, figures, a picture, a frame, or a line.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting step further selects a search method from a plurality of search methods displayed, wherein the non-text attribute is the image, the table, or the graphics.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the searching step comprises performing a search in accordance with a search expression, the search expression being set using the plurality of segments and a logic operator.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the search expression is set using the first one of the plurality of segments and the second one of the plurality of segments.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the search comprises a single search based on both of the first search key and the second search key.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising an outputting step of outputting integrated search results from a plurality of search methods.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the search expression is displayed.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pointing operation is any one of a drag-and-drop operation, a click operation, an operation of drawing a path, and a moving operation.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pointing operation is a motion of a pointing device on one of a display screen and a touch panel.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein one of a background color and a frame color of the selected segment is changed in the selecting step.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-text attribute comprises the image.

12. An apparatus for retrieving data from a database, comprising:

a displaying unit configured to display data including a plurality of attributes;

a selecting unit configured to select a plurality of segments from the displayed data;

a determining unit configured to determine an attribute of each of the plurality of segments, wherein an attribute of a first one of the plurality of segments is a text attribute, and an attribute of a second one of the plurality of segments is a non-text attribute;

a first setting unit configured to set a first search key and a second search key, wherein text data corresponding to the text attribute of the first one of the plurality of segments is set as the first search key, and non-text data corresponding to the non-text attribute of the second one of the plurality of segments is extracted and set as the second search key;

a second setting unit configured to set a search expression using the plurality of segments, and a logic operator, wherein the logic operator corresponding to a predetermined path drawn by a pointing operation is set by the second setting unit; and

a searching unit configured to search the database, based on the first search key and the second search key, by using a search method corresponding to the first search key and the second search key, respectively,

wherein the non-text attribute comprises at least one of an image, a photograph, a table, graphics, figures, a picture, a frame, or a line.

13. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute steps of:

displaying data including a plurality of attributes;

selecting a plurality of segments from the displayed data;

determining an attribute of each of the plurality of segments, wherein an attribute of a first one of the plurality of segments is a text attribute, and an attribute of a second one of the plurality of segments is a non-text attribute;

setting a first search key and a second search key, wherein text data corresponding to the text attribute of the first one of the plurality of segments is set as the first search key, and non-text data corresponding to the non-text attribute of the second one of the plurality of segments is extracted and set as the second search key;

setting a search expression using the plurality of segments, and a logic operator, wherein the logic operator corresponding to a predetermined path drawn by a pointing operation is set in the setting step; and

searching the database, based on the first search key and the second search key, by using a search method corresponding to the first search key and the second search key, respectively,

wherein the non-text attribute comprises at least one of an image, a photograph, a table, graphics, figures, a picture, a frame, or a line.