When there are the same contents (content data) of a document among versions, the contents of the document are shared so as to reduce the storage area. Accordingly, instead of accumulating content data separately for each version, each version is related to the content data accumulated in the storage area shared among the versions. When a document α has versions 1 through 3 and each of versions 1 through 3 has sections 1 and 2, three sections 1 of the versions 1 through 3 share content data 1 and the section 2 of each of the versions 1 through 3 has different content data 2, 3, or 4. The content data 1, 2, 3, or 4 indicated by version information are searched for from a content data DB, to be edited. Only when the content data 1, 2, 3, or 4 are changed, new content data are registered.