The method uses digital data processing means and stored representations of a table of textual block identifiers for locating in a stored textual data base those textual blocks having the best match with a query. Textual block identifiers each provide an indication of a textual block in a stored data base which contains the corresponding word. The method comprises the following steps: A query word is received having representations of a plurality of words to be located in textual blocks in the stored data base. For each of a plurality of the query words, determine a corresponding set of equivalent words which are contained in the stored data base. Each set of equivalent words is equivalent to the corresponding query word. Each equivalent word has a corresponding group of textual block identifiers represented in the stored table. Process the representations of the textual block identifiers in those groups which correspond to the determined equivalent words to thereby form a score for at least one textual block. The score provides an indication of the total number of the sets which have at least one equivalent word in the at least one textual block. The score is utilized to provide output data pertaining to selected textual blocks in the stored textual data base.

A word processor for setting a format of a text, having a format controller for controlling a newly set format to be effective from the beginning of a character data group to which the position where the format setting operation is carried out belongs, and a reformatter for reforming at least the character data group based upon the newly set format. The word processor searches backward and forward in the text for locating line feed codes designating the beginning and end of the character data group, respectively, and selects the beginning and end of the text when the line feed codes could not be located.

In the operation of creating a text by depressing the keys on the keyboard, when a format code search key is depressed by an operator at an erroneous position, the cursor is moved by the operator to a position where an appropriate format code mark is indicated; and the specific key such as an upward moving cursor key or a downward moving cursor key is depressed to vertically scroll the picture on the display and sequentially move the cursor to a position where another format code mark is indicated. Thus, the cursor can be easily moved to an intended format code mark.

An improvement in a text-editing system having a keyboard for inputting character and text-editing operation signals, a CRT display, display storage and text storage, and additional special condition storage; the system responds to a select/store signal to select a sequence of signals from text storage and store it into special condition storage, and thereafter responds to a recall signal to disable the keyboard, retrieve the stored sequence, and operate according to it. A keyboard interactive operation signal can be stored as part of such a sequence. The system responds to retrieval of this signal to permit input of a keystroke string through the keyboard to the display storage and text storage; the system further responds to a keystroke string end indicator, input through the keyboard, to resume recall and execution of the stored sequence.

Data output apparatus registers special format data added to specific character data together therewith in a registered word memory. When sentence data is read out from a sentence memory, the character data included in the sentence data and coinciding with the specific character data is automatically printed with the special format data.