PURPOSE: To make data input efficient, by describing a corresponding phrase data to a specified field of an input record, adding a phrase input designation key for common use of an existing one character input key to a phrase data input.

CONSTITUTION: When one character input keys 141W14n are in key operation during the period of phrase input designation mode, a phrase table of a file device 18 is retrieved, a phrase data assigned to one character input key is read out and the phrase data is written in a specified location of a specified field of an input record formed in a main memory 19. When the keys 141W14n are operated during the release period of the phrase input designation mode, the corresponding data for one character's share is written in the specified location of the specified field of the input record to form the input record. While one field is designated, according to the key input from the keys 141W14n, the phrase data or data for one character's is sequentially inputted to the designated field of the input record.