Methods and systems for managing data
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine implemented method comprising:
- receiving an input for a search operation;
performing the search operation;
displaying a list of results from the search operation, the list presenting N items, wherein N is less than M items found from the search operation and wherein the list is grouped by categories and the number of items within each category is limited to less than N.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
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Citations
121 Claims
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1. A machine implemented method comprising:
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receiving an input for a search operation;
performing the search operation;
displaying a list of results from the search operation, the list presenting N items, wherein N is less than M items found from the search operation and wherein the list is grouped by categories and the number of items within each category is limited to less than N. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A machine implemented method comprising:
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receiving an input for a search operation;
performing the search operation;
displaying a non-scrollable list of results from the search operation, the list presenting N items, wherein N is less than the M items found from the search operation;
displaying a command to cause the display of a window which is capable of displaying all M items. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A machine implemented method comprising:
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displaying text within a text processing application;
receiving a selection of at least some of the text;
receiving a selection of a command to search a plurality of files using the selection;
displaying results of a search of the plurality of files. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A machine implemented method comprising:
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displaying a search input parameter interface which displays an expandable plurality of metadata search attributes;
receiving a selection of a metadata search attribute from the display of the expandable plurality of metadata attributes. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A machine implemented method comprising:
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receiving a command to create at least one folder and a directory;
naming and saving the folder or the directory;
receiving a command, after naming and saving the folder or the directory, to perform a search of metadata of a plurality of files; and
storing the results of the search in the folder or the directory, wherein the type of data in metadata for one file type is different than the type of data in metadata for another file type. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A machine implemented method comprising:
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performing a search with a search query on at least one of content or metadata of files in a system;
saving the search query as a folder;
displaying an icon representing the folder in a user configurable portion of an opened window; and
receiving a selection of the icon in the user configurable portion to cause the system to perform a search specified by the search query wherein the window, with the user configurable portion, is capable of displaying files and representations of subdirectories in a file management system user interface and wherein an application program can be launched by opening a displayed file and wherein at least one object, which represents a subdirectory, in the user configurable portion is capable of being opened by selecting an item and commanding the object to be opened while the item is selected.
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23. A machine implemented method comprising:
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performing a search with a search query on at least one of content or metadata of files in a system;
saving the search query as a folder;
displaying an icon representing the folder in a user configurable portion of an opened window; and
receiving a selection of the icon in the user configurable portion to cause the system to perform a search specified by the search query wherein the window, with the user configurable portion, is capable of displaying files and representations of subdirectories in a file management system user interface and wherein an application program can be launched by opening a displayed file and wherein the display of the user configurable portion is capable of being scrolled.
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24. A machine implemented method comprising:
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performing a search with a search query on an index database of content of files in a system;
saving the search query as a folder;
displaying an icon representing the folder in a user configurable portion of an opened window; and
receiving a selection of the icon in the user configurable portion to cause the system to perform a search specified by the search query. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A machine implemented method comprising:
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displaying an open file window;
displaying a search input field in the open file window to allow entry of a search query to find a file;
receiving a search query and performing a search;
displaying a result of the search within another window. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an input to perform a search on metadata of files in a system; and
receiving an input to specify that certain items, files, folders, directories or categories of items are not to be searched, wherein the metadata is for a plurality of files of different types and wherein the type of metadata for files of a first type is different than the type of metadata for files of a second type. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A machine implemented method comprising:
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receiving an input to perform a search for at least one of metadata or content by a user;
displaying the results of the search;
opening one of the files found in the search with an application that can process the file;
receiving a further search input from a search input interface within a window of the application wherein the further search input causes a search to be conducted on files that can be processed by the application.
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33. A machine implemented method comprising:
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running an application in a system; and
receiving a selection of information that is part of a file being processed by the application to launch a system wide search operation, through another software component, based on the information. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A machine implemented method comprising:
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running a text processing application in a computer system;
selecting some text currently being processed by the application; and
automatically using the selected text to launch a system wide search operation based on the selected text. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42)
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43. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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presenting an expandable list of metadata parameters in a search input interface;
performing a search on files in a system; and
allowing the user to specify or enter additional metadata parameters into the expandable list of metadata parameters.
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44. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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presenting an interface to allow a search of metadata of files in a computer system;
presenting a list of metadata parameters in a search input interface;
automatically expanding the list of metadata parameters as new types of files are entered into the system.
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45. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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storing metadata of files in a system in a first database;
indexing the content of the files and storing the indexed content in a second database;
storing additional properties and information about the files in the first database and the second database; and
allowing the display of the additional properties and information for files selected by a user wherein the type of metadata for a first type of file is different than the type of metadata for a second type of file.
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46. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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storing metadata of files in a computer system in a first database;
indexing the content of the files and storing the indexed content in a second database;
allowing a user to enter comments about a file and storing the comments in the first database and the second database; and
allowing the display of the comments entered by the user together with other information about the file wherein the type of metadata for a first type of file is different than the type of metadata for a second type of file. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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47. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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displaying a folder of search results requested by a user;
automatically removing the display of the folder if no user activity is detected for a period of time while continuing to display other information.
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48. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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indexing the content of system configuration files in an index database;
storing the metadata of system configuration files in a metadata database; and
allowing a user to search for content and metadata of system configuration files.
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50. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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performing search queries by a user based on search criteria;
storing the search queries in different search folders;
running an application that is receiving new files;
automatically storing a representation of the new files in the search folders if the files meet the search criteria wherein the type of metadata for a first type of file is different than the type of metadata for a second type of file.
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51. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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displaying an open file window;
displaying a search input field to allow entry of a search query to find a file;
receiving a search query and performing a search; and
displaying within the open file window a result of the search as a list that provides a first view of items stored in the list that is different from a hierarchical view based on file directory locations of the items on the system. - View Dependent Claims (52)
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53. A machine implemented method comprising:
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indexing contents of files in one or more volumes of a system and storing results in a first database;
collecting metadata of files in one or more volumes of the computer system and storing results in a second database;
allowing a user to search for content and metadata of files in the computer system by searching through the first database and the second database; and
dynamically updating the contents of the first database and the second database as changes are made to existing files in the computer system or as new files are created or existing files are deleted. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56)
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57. A machine-implemented method comprising:
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receiving an input to perform a search on metadata of files in a system; and
determining whether certain items, files, folders, directories or categories of items are not to be searched, wherein the metadata is for a plurality of files of different types and wherein the type of metadata for files of a first type is different than the type of metadata for files of a second type. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59)
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60. A machine-implemented method comprising:
receiving an input to specify that certain items, files, folders, directories or categories of items are not to be searched, wherein the metadata is for a plurality of files of different types and wherein the type of metadata for files of a first type is different than the type of metadata for files of a second type. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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63. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an input for a search operation;
performing the search operation;
displaying a list of results from the search operation, the list presenting N items, wherein N is less than M items found from the search operation and wherein the list is grouped by categories and the number of items within each category is limited to less than N. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an input for a search operation;
performing the search operation;
displaying a non-scrollable list of results from the search operation, the list presenting N items, wherein N is less than the M items found from the search operation;
displaying a command to cause the display of a window which is capable of displaying all M items. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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72-76. -76. (canceled)
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77. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method comprising:
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displaying text within a text processing application;
receiving a selection of at least some of the text;
receiving a selection of a command to search a plurality of files using the selection;
displaying results of a search of the plurality of files. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79)
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80. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a search input parameter interface which displays an expandable plurality of metadata search attributes;
receiving a selection of a metadata search attribute from the display of the expandable plurality of metadata attributes. - View Dependent Claims (81)
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82. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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receiving a command to create at least one folder and a directory;
naming and saving the folder or the directory;
receiving a command, after naming and saving the folder or the directory, to perform a search of metadata of a plurality of files; and
storing the results of the search in the folder or the directory, wherein the type of data in metadata for one file type is different than the type of data in metadata for another file type. - View Dependent Claims (83)
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84. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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performing a search with a search query on at least one of content or metadata of files in a system;
saving the search query as a folder;
displaying an icon representing the folder in a user configurable portion of an opened window; and
receiving a selection of the icon in the user configurable portion to cause the system to perform a search specified by the search query wherein the window, with the user configurable portion, is capable of displaying files and representations of subdirectories in a file management system user interface and wherein an application program can be launched by opening a displayed file and wherein at least one object, which represents a subdirectory, in the user configurable portion is capable of being opened by selecting an item and commanding the object to be opened while the item is selected.
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85. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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performing a search with a search query on at least one of content or metadata of files in a system;
saving the search query as a folder;
displaying an icon representing the folder in a user configurable portion of an opened window; and
receiving a selection of the icon in the user configurable portion to cause the system to perform a search specified by the search query wherein the window, with the user configurable portion, is capable of displaying files and representations of subdirectories in a file management system user interface and wherein an application program can be launched by opening a displayed file and wherein the display of the user configurable portion is capable of being scrolled.
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86. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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performing a search with a search query on an index database of content of files in a system;
saving the search query as a folder;
displaying an icon representing the folder in a user configurable portion of an opened window; and
receiving a selection of the icon in the user configurable portion to cause the system to perform a search specified by the search query. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88)
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89. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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displaying an open file window;
displaying a search input field in the open file window to allow entry of a search query to find a file;
receiving a search query and performing a search;
displaying a result of the search within another window. - View Dependent Claims (90)
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91. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an input to perform a search on metadata of files in a system; and
receiving an input to specify that certain items, files, folders, directories or categories of items are not to be searched, wherein the metadata is for a plurality of files of different types and wherein the type of metadata for files of a first type is different than the type of metadata for files of a second type. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93)
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94. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an input to perform a search for at least one of metadata or content by a user;
displaying the results of the search;
opening one of the files found in the search with an application that can process the file;
receiving a further search input from a search input interface within a window of the application wherein the further search input causes a search to be conducted on files that can be processed by the application.
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95. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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running an application in a system; and
receiving a selection of information that is part of a file being processed by the application to launch a system wide search operation, through another software component, based on the information. - View Dependent Claims (96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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101. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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running a text processing application in a computer system;
selecting some text currently being processed by the application; and
automatically using the selected text to launch a system wide search operation based on the selected text. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104)
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105. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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presenting an expandable list of metadata parameters in a search input interface;
performing a search on files in a system; and
allowing the user to specify or enter additional metadata parameters into the expandable list of metadata parameters.
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106. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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presenting an interface to allow a search of metadata of files in a computer system;
presenting a list of metadata parameters in a search input interface;
automatically expanding the list of metadata parameters as new types of files are entered into the system.
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107. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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storing metadata of files in a system in a first database;
indexing the content of the files and storing the indexed content in a second database;
storing additional properties and information about the files in the first database and the second database; and
allowing the display of the additional properties and information for files selected by a user wherein the type of metadata for a first type of file is different than the type of metadata for a second type of file.
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108. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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storing metadata of files in a computer system in a first database;
indexing the content of the files and storing the indexed content in a second database;
allowing a user to enter comments about a file and storing the comments in the first database and the second database; and
allowing the display of the comments entered by the user together with other information about the file wherein the type of metadata for a first type of file is different than the type of metadata for a second type of file.
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109. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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displaying a folder of search results requested by a user;
automatically removing the display of the folder if no user activity is detected for a period of time while continuing to display other information.
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110. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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indexing the content of system configuration files in an index database;
storing the metadata of system configuration files in a metadata database; and
allowing a user to search for content and metadata of system configuration files. - View Dependent Claims (111)
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112. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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performing search queries by a user based on search criteria;
storing the search queries in different search folders;
running an application that is receiving new files;
automatically storing a representation of the new files in the search folders if the files meet the search criteria wherein the type of metadata for a first type of file is different than the type of metadata for a second type of file.
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113. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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displaying an open file window;
displaying a search input field to allow entry of a search query to find a file;
receiving a search query and performing a search; and
displaying within the open file window a result of the search as a list that provides a first view of items stored in the list that is different from a hierarchical view based on file directory locations of the items on the system. - View Dependent Claims (114)
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115. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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indexing contents of files in one or more volumes of a system and storing results in a first database;
collecting metadata of files in one or more volumes of the computer system and storing results in a second database;
allowing a user to search for content and metadata of files in the computer system by searching through the first database and the second database; and
dynamically updating the contents of the first database and the second database as changes are made to existing files in the computer system or as new files are created or existing files are deleted. - View Dependent Claims (116, 117)
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118. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
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receiving an input to perform a search on metadata of files in a system; and
determining whether certain items, files, folders, directories or categories of items are not to be searched, wherein the metadata is for a plurality of files of different types and wherein the type of metadata for files of a first type is different than the type of metadata for files of a second type. - View Dependent Claims (119, 120)
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121. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a system cause the system to perform a method comprising:
receiving an input to specify that certain items, files, folders, directories or categories of items are not to be searched, wherein the metadata is for a plurality of files of different types and wherein the type of metadata for files of a first type is different than the type of metadata for files of a second type.
Specification