Image forming apparatus and document data classification method

A document data classification method comprising:

• storing classification determination information that includes a determination criterion rule, the determination criterion rule including an overall classification rule and a user classification rule, for classifying image data on a document input to an image forming apparatus, wherein the user classification rule is information in which a criterion for classifying a document having a specific feature quantity is set for each user in association with the specific feature quantity, and the overall classification rule is a determination criterion applied to all users and is information in which a criterion for classifying a document having the specific feature quantity is set in association with the specific feature quantity;
• inputting image data on a document by an input operation of the user;
• first acquiring the image data on the document input at the inputting;
• second acquiring, from the image data on the document acquired at the first acquiring, feature quantity that is information with which the document is distinguishable;
• classifying and storing the image data on the document acquired at the first acquiring based on the overall classification rule associated with the specific feature quantity or the user classification rule of the user associated with the specific feature quantity included in the classification determination information;
• changing, when the user performs a specific classification operation on the image data on the document having the feature quantity acquired at the second acquiring, a criterion of the user classification rule of the user associated with the feature quantity acquired at the second acquiring to a criterion corresponding to the specific classification operation;
• preferentially applying, in a case where the overall classification rule and the user classification rule of a user are set in association with the specific feature quantity, when image data on a document input by the user and having the specific feature quantity is classified, the user classification rule of the user such that the image data input by the user is classified and stored, and
• applying, in a case where the overall classification rule is set in association with the specific feature quantity and the user classification rule of each user is not set, when the image data on the document input by the user and having the specific feature quantity is classified, the overall classification rule such that the image data input by the user is classified and stored;
• and
• in a case where the overall classification rule and the user classification rule of a plurality of users are set in association with the specific feature quantity, when a criterion corresponding to an identical classification operation is set in any of the user classification rules of the users and the overall rule update condition information is satisfied, executing the instructions to change a criterion of the overall classification rule associated with the specific feature quantity to a criterion corresponding to the identical classification operation, and
• in a case that:
• an event causing a change in the criterion of the overall classification rule associated with the specific feature quantity occurs, if a rule update condition information is set to valid, the criterion of the overall classification rule associated with the specific feature quantity, before the change, is set as the criterion of the user classification rule of the user, else if
• the rule update condition information is set to invalid, the criterion of the user classification rule of the user corresponding to the overall classification rule is not changed, and the criterion of the user classification rule of the user is previously set, the criterion of the user classification rule of the user which is previously set is maintained.