PURPOSE: To obtain a device by which one of plural candidate character strings is selected efficiently in the selection of a file name, etc.

CONSTITUTION: This candidate selecting device consists of a part (candidate list storage part) 1 which stores character strings as candidates, a part (candidate list display part) 2 which displays a part of a candidate list to a user, a part (character string display part) 3 which displays the candidate character strings, a device (character string input device) 4 on which the user inputs a candidate character string, a part (candidate comparison part) 5 which compares the contents of the character string display part 3 with the contents of the candidate list display part and makes the highlight display of a corresponding item at the candidate list display part when there is the coincident item, a part (candidate extraction part) 6 which selects a candidate character string containing the character string at the display part as a part of it by comparing the candidate character string storage part 1 with the candidate character string display part 3 and sets it in the candidate list display part 1, and a part (scroll bar) 7 which varies the display range through mouse operation, etc., when the contents of the candidate list display part is too large to display on the screen.