Method and system for detaching files to a specified location

• US 6,978,276 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2002
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Szabo, Robert M., Demsky, Scott H., Ferguson, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US10/102,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/203, 707/205, 707/201, 707/202, 707/204, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1, 709/206, 715/512, 715/513
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method of detaching at least one file attached to an electronic document can include identifying a location where the attached file is to be stored responsive to a user command. The location can be associated with the attached file. A detached file can be generated from the attached file. The detached file can be stored at the associated location.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of detaching at least one attached file from an electronic document comprising:

receiving a user command to detach a second document from a first document, wherein when attached, the first document and the second document both reside within a data repository;

responsive to a user command, identifying a location where the at least one attached file is to be stored, wherein said location comprises at least one of a user-specified location and a default location, the default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process said attached file, wherein the default location is external to the data repository;

generating a detached file from said second document;

storing said detached file at said location;

creating a reference to the location and associating the reference with the first document; and

deleting the second document from the repository.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said detached file is a copy of said second document.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said detached file is said second document having been removed from said first document.

4. A computer-implemented method of detaching at least one file from an electronic document comprising:

responsive to a user command, identifying a location where the at least one attached file is to be stored, wherein said location is associated with the attached file;

generating a detached file from at least one attached file;

attached to said electronic document, said electronic document and said attached file residing within a data repository;

identifying a location where said at least one detached file is to be stored, wherein said location comprises at least one of a user-specified location and default location, said default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process said attached file, and wherein said location is external to said data repository; and

storing said detached file at said location;

creating a reference to said location and associating said reference with the electronic document; and

deleting said attached file from said data repository.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said identifying step, said generating step, and said storing step are responsive to a single user command.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prior to said making step, replacing said identified location with a second user specified location.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said identifying a location step comprises:

identifying a location associated with a file type of the particular file attached to the electronic document.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, creating said location.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, querying a user for a new location.

10. The method of claim 4, said identifying a location step further comprising:

extracting said location from within the electronic document.

11. A computer-implemented method of detaching at least one file from an electronic document comprising:

responsive to a user command, generating a detached file from at least one attached file attached to said electronic document, said electronic document and said attached file residing within a data repository;

identifying a location where the at least one detached file is to be stored, comprises a default location external to the data repository, and wherein said default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process said attached file;

creating a reference to said location and associating the reference with said electronic document;

storing the attached file at said associated location; and

deleting said attached document from said repository.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said identifying step, said removing step, and said storing step are responsive to a single user command.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

wherein said location is associated with the attached file, and further comprising, prior to said generating step, replacing said location with a second user-specified location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said identifying a location step comprises:

identifying a location associated with a file type of the particular file attached to the electronic document.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, creating said location.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, querying a user for a new location.

17. The method of claim 11, said identifying a location step further comprising:

extracting said location from within the electronic document.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said location is designated by a user.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said attached file when stored is stored in the same format that said attached file was in before attachment to the electronic document.

20. A system for detaching at least one file from an electronic document comprising:

a graphical user interface configured to display at least one option for detaching attached at least one file from an electronic document when said attached file and electronic document reside within a data repository;

a detachment processor configured to respond to activation of one of said options by generating a detached file from said attached file, deleting said attached file from said repository and creating a reference to a location at which said attached file is to be stored;

wherein said location comprises at least one of a user-specified location and a default location, the default location being determined by the detachment processor if a user does not specify said location and being based on a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process the file storing said detached file at said location;

creating a reference to the location and associating the reference with the first document; and

deleting the second document from the repository.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said detachment processor is further configured to update said location with a second user specified location where the file is to be stored.

22. A graphical user interface for detaching at least one file attached to an electronic document, both residing in a data repository, said graphical user interface including at least one option for generating a detached file from the attached file, deleting the attached file from the data repository, and storing the detached file at a location comprising at least one of a user-specified location and a default location, the default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process the at least one file and creating a reference to the location.

23. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

responsive to a user command, generating at least one detached file from an attached file attached to an electronic document when the electronic document and the attached file reside in a data repository;

identifying a location where said at least one detached file is to be stored, wherein said location comprises at least one of a user-specified location and a default location, the default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process the attached file;

generating a detached file from said attached file; and

storing said detached file at said location; and

deleting said attached file from the data repository.

24. The machine-readable storage of claim 23, wherein said detached file is a copy of said attached file.

25. The machine-readable storage of claim 23, wherein said detached file is said attached file having been removed from said electronic document.

26. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

responsive to a user command, generating at least one detached file from an attached file attached to an electronic document when the electronic document and the attached file reside in a data repository;

identifying a location where said the detached file is to be stored, wherein said location comprises at least one of a user-specified location and default location, said default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process said attached file;

the location is associated with the attached file;

making a copy of the attached file; and

storing said copy of the detached file at said location deleting said attached file; and

creating a reference to the location and associating the reference with the electronic document.

27. The machine-readable storage of claim 26, wherein said identifying step, said making step, and said storing step are responsive to a single user command.

28. The machine-readable storage of claim 26, further comprising:

prior to said making step, replacing said identified location with a second user specified location.

29. The machine-readable storage of claim 26, wherein said identifying a location step comprises:

identifying a location associated with a file type of the particular file attached to the electronic document.

30. The machine-readable storage of claim 26, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, creating said location.

31. The machine-readable storage of claim 26, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, querying a user for a new location.

32. The machine-readable storage of claim 26, said identifying a location step further comprising:

extracting said location from within the electronic document.

33. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having a plurality of code sections, said code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

responsive to a user command, generating at least one detached file from an attached file attached to an electronic document when the electronic document and the attached file reside in a data repository;

identifying a location where said the at least one detached file is to be stored, wherein said location comprises at least one of a user-specified location and default location, said default location being specified by a basis selected from a group consisting of a per-attached-file basis, a per-file-type basis, and a basis specified by an application designated to process said attached file;

wherein the location is associated with the attached file;

attached to an electronic file defining an attached file and

storing the attached file at said location creating a reference to said location and associating said reference with the electronic document; and

deleting said electronic document from the data repository.

34. The machine-readable storage of claim 33, wherein said identifying step, said removing step and said storing step are responsive to a single user command.

35. The machine-readable storage of claim 33, farther comprising:

wherein said location is associated with the attached file, and further comprising, prior to said generating step, replacing said location with a second user-specified location.

36. The machine-readable storage of claim 33, wherein said identifying a location step comprises:

identifying a location associated with a file type of the particular file attached to the electronic document.

37. The machine-readable storage of claim 33, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, creating said location.

38. The machine-readable storage of claim 33, further comprising:

if said location does not exist, querying a user for a new location.

39. The machine-readable storage of claim 33, said identifying a location step further comprising:

extracting said location from within the electronic document.