Method and apparatus for generating arbitrary output records in response

Abstract

In order to obtain an accounting form required by a person who has no expert knowledge, a first designation units designates record names of output records, and item contents (e.g., item codes) of the output records to be extracted, and a second designation units designates item names to be output as data items of the output records, and output object items to be extracted as data items in correspondence with the item names. Then, records which coincide with the designated item contents are read out from a predetermined file, and a processor processes data of the output object items on the basis of the readout records in units of record names of the output records. The processed output records are output in accordance with an arranged order of the record names designated by the first designation units, and data of the output object items of the output records are output in accordance with an arranging order of the item names designated by the second designation units. Therefore, by only designating record names of output records, their item names, output object items and the like in accordance with an output image of, e.g. an accounting form, the accounting form according to the designated contents can be output without generating a code system in advance so as to obtain a desired accounting form.