A material name and attribute information are extracted from design data, and a reference material name corresponding to the material name is searched for from a dictionary database. When a desired search result is obtained, the search result is output. When a desired reference material name is not obtained, candidates of the reference material name having the attribute information are searched in an information database, and priorities are assigned to candidates obtained through the search, to display the candidates. A user selects a reference material name from the candidates displayed based on the priorities. The processes of selecting the material name and the reference material name selected are registered in the dictionary database and the information database.