Methods and systems for managing data

• US 20050289133A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Chaudhri, Imran, Ording, Bas, Giampaolo, Dominic, Arrouye, Yan, Cisler, Pavel, Tiene, Kevin, Lemay, Stephen Olivier, Os, Marcel van, Christie, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/11 File system administration, e.g. details of archiving or snapshots file system backup G06F11/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156

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.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

searching the metadata from the plurality of files created by the plurality of different software applications.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the searching of the metadata occurs concurrently for the plurality of files.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification.

4. A method as in claim 1 fiber comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein the first software element is a plug in.

6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein the database is maintained in a flat file format in which the metadata is sequentially saved over time.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the metadata for files of the first software application comprise information of a first type of information including at least a first and a second field and wherein the metadata for files of the second software application copse information of a second type of information including at least a third and a fourth field.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the first software application is an image display or processing program and the first field is for a color space identifier and the second field is for the width of the image in pixels and wherein the second software application is a word processing program and the third field is for an author identifier and the fourth field is for keywords.

10. A method as in claim 3 further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing; and

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

11. A machine readable medium containing executable program instructions for causing a data processing system to perform a method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

searching the metadata from the plurality of files created by the plurality of different software applications.

12. A machine readable medium as in claim 11 wherein the searching of the metadata occurs concurrently for the plurality of files.

13. A machine readable medium as in claim 11, the method further comprising:

receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification.

14. A machine readable medium as in claim 11, the method further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

15. A machine readable medium as in claim 14 wherein the first software element is a plug in.

16. A machine readable medium as in claim 11, the method fixer comprising:

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

17. A machine readable medium as in claim 16 wherein the database is maintained in a flat file format in which the metadata is sequentially saved over time.

18. A machine readable medium as in claim 11 wherein the metadata for files of the first software application comprise information of a first type of information including at least a first and a second field and wherein the metadata for files of the second software application comprise information of a second type of information including at least a third and a fourth field.

19. A machine readable medium as in claim 11 wherein the first software application is an image display or processing program and the first field is for a color space identifier and the second field is for the width of the image in pixels and wherein the second software application is a word processing program and the third field is for an author identifier and the fourth field is for keywords.

20. A machine readable medium as in claim 13, the method further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing; and

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

21. A data processing system comprising:

means for capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

means for searching the metadata from the plurality of files created by the plurality of different software applications.

22. A data processing system as in claim 21 wherein the searching of the metadata occurs concurrently for the plurality of files.

23. A data processing system as in claim 21 further comprising:

means for receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification.

24. A data processing system as in claim 21 further comprising:

means for determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

25. A data processing system as in claim 24 wherein the first software element is a plug in.

26. A data processing system as in claim 21 further comprising:

means for storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

27. A data processing system as in claim 26 wherein the database is maintained in a flat file format in which the metadata is sequentially saved over time.

28. A data processing system as in claim 21 wherein the metadata for files of the first software application comprise information of a first type of information including at least a first and a second field and wherein the metadata for files of the second software application comprise information of a second type of information including at least a third and a fourth field.

30. A data processing system as in claim 23 further comprising:

means for determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing; and

means for storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

29. A data processing system as in clam 21 wherein the first software application is an image display or processing program and the first field is for a color space identifier and the second field is for the width of the image in pixels and wherein the second software application is a word processing program and the third field is for an author identifier and the fourth field is for keywords.

31. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system;

storing the metadata on a storage medium in a flat file format.

32. A method as in claim 31 wherein the metadata comprises a plurality of objects, each of the objects corresponding to one of the plurality of files and each of the objects having a plurality of fields.

33. A method as in claim 32 wherein there is no reference between any of the fields within one object of the objects to any of the fields within another object of the objects.

34. A method as in claim 33 wherein the metadata is stored in a sequential stream on the storage medium.

35. A method as in claim 32 further comprising:

searching the metadata on the storage medium.

36. A method as in claim 35 further comprising:

receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification;

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

37. A method as in claim 31 further comprising:

capturing New metadata from a New file created by one of the plurality of different software applications,

storing the New metadata on the storage medium without altering the metadata already stored on the storage medium for the plurality of files.

38. A method as in claim 31 wherein first metadata for files created by a first software application comprise a first group of fields which differ at least in past from a second group of fields in second metadata for files created by a second software application.

39. A method as in claim 38 wherein at least two files in the first group of fields are not present in the second group of fields.

40. A method as in claim 36 wherein the notification is for any file changed, created or deleted by the plurality of different software applications.

41. A machine readable medium containing executable program instructions for causing a data processing system to perform a method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system;

storing the metadata on a storage medium in a flat file format.

42. A machine readable medium as in claim 41 wherein the metadata comprises a plurality of objects, each of the objects corresponding to one of the plurality of files and each of the objects having a plurality of fields.

43. A machine readable medium as in claim 42 wherein there is no reference between any of the fields within one object of the objects to any of the fields within another object of the objects.

44. A machine readable medium as in claim 43 wherein the metadata is stored in a sequential stream on the storage medium.

45. A machine readable medium as in claim 42, the method further comprising:

searching the metadata on the storage medium.

46. A machine readable medium as in claim 45, the method father comprising

receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification;

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

47. A machine readable medium as in claim 41, the method flintier comprising:

capturing New metadata from a New file created by one of the plurality of different software applications;

storing the New metadata on the storage medium without altering the metadata already stored on the storage medium for the plurality of files.

48. A machine readable medium as in claim 41 wherein first metadata for files created by a first software application comprise a first group of fields which differ at least in part from a second group of fields in second metadata for files created by a second software application.

49. A machine readable medium as in claim 48 wherein at least two files in the first group of fields are not present in the second group of fields.

50. A machine readable medium as in claim 46 wherein the notification is for any file changed, created or deleted by the plurality of different software applications.

51. A data processing system comprising:

means for capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system;

means for storing the metadata on a storage medium in a flat file format.

52. A data processing system as in claim 51 wherein the metadata comprises a plurality of objects, each of the objects corresponding to one of the plurality of files and each of the objects having a plurality of fields.

53. A data processing system as in claim 52 wherein there is no reference between any of the fields within one object of the objects to any of the fields within another object of the objects.

54. A data processing system as in claim 53 wherein the metadata is stored in a sequential stream on the storage medium.

55. A data processing system as in claim 52 father comprising:

means for searching the metadata on the storage medium.

56. A data processing system as in claim 55 further comprising:

means for receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification;

means for determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

57. A data processing system as in claim 51 further comprising:

means for capturing New metadata from a New file created by one of the plurality of different software applications;

means for storing the New metadata on the storage medium without altering the metadata already stored on the storage medium for the plurality of files.

58. A data processing system as in claim 51 wherein first metadata for files created by a first software application comprise a first group of fields which differ at least in part from a second group of fields in second metadata for files created by a second software application.

59. A data processing system as in claim 58 wherein at least two files in the first group of fields are not present in the second group of fields.

60. A data processing system as in claim 56 wherein the notification is for any file changed, created or deleted by the plurality of different software applications.

61. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

displaying a search input interface for searching the metadata.

62. A method as in claim 61 wherein the search input interface comprises a window having menus for selecting various search parameters.

63. A method as in claim 62 wherein the menus comprise identifiers for a plurality of fields in the metadata.

64. A method as in claim 63 further comprising:

displaying search results within a window which concurrently displays a selected set of search parameters which caused the search results.

65. A method as in claim 64 wherein the search results arm displayed without a hierarchical listing of the metadata which represents a hierarchy of the corresponding files in a hierarchical file system.

66. A method as in claim 63 wherein the menus include at least one hierarchical menu which has at least two levels of selectable options.

67. A method as in claim 63 further comprising:

displaying search results in a window, the search results being segmented into groups which are separated by identifying headers.

68. A method as in claim 61 further comprising:

receiving at least one input which associates a selected group of the metadata;

displaying a representation of the selected group of the metadata.

69. A method as in claim 68 wherein the search input interface comprises a window having menus for selecting various search parameters and wherein the menus include identifiers for a plurality of fields in the metadata and wherein the representation is displayed in the window.

70. A method as in claim 61 further comprising:

receiving an input of a first search for searching trough the metadata;

saving the input of the first search to provide a saved input;

displaying a representation of the saved input which a user can activate to perform the first search.

71. A machine readable medium containing executable program instructions for causing a data processing system to perform a method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

displaying a search input interface for searching the metadata.

72. A machine readable medium as in claim 71 wherein the search input interface comprises a window having menus for selecting various search parameters.

73. A machine readable medium as in claim 72 wherein the menus comprise identifiers for a plurality of fields in the metadata.

74. A machine readable medium as in claim 73, the method further comprising:

displaying search results within a window which concurrently displays a selected set of search parameters which caused the search results.

75. A machine readable medium as in claim 74 wherein the search results are displayed without a hierarchical listing of the metadata which represents a hierarchy of the corresponding files in a hierarchical file system.

76. A machine readable medium as in claim 73 wherein the menus include at least one hierarchical menu which has at least two levels of selectable options.

78. A machine readable medium as in claim 71, the method further comprising:

receiving at least one input which associates a selected group of the metadata;

displaying a representation of the selected group of the metadata.

79. A machine readable medium as in claim 78 wherein the search input interface comprises a window having menus for selecting various search parameters and wherein the menus include identifiers for a plurality of fields in the metadata and wherein the representation is displayed in the window.

80. A machine readable medium as in claim 71, the method further comprising:

receiving an input of a first search for searching through the metadata;

saving the input of the first search to provide a saved input,

displaying a representation of the saved input which a user can activate to perform the first search.

77. A machine readable medium as in claim 737 the method further comprising:

displaying search results in a window, the search results being segmented into groups which are separated by identifying headers.

81. A data processing system comprising:

means for capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications which execute on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

means for displaying a search input interface for searching the metadata.

82. A data processing system as in claim 81 wherein the search input interface comprises a window having menus for selecting various search parameters.

83. A data pressing system as in claim 82 wherein the menus comprise identifiers for a plurality of fields in the metadata.

84. A data processing system as in claim 83 further comprising:

means for displaying search results within a window which concurrently displays a selected set of search parameters which caused the search results.

85. A data processing system as in claim 84 wherein the search results are displayed without a hierarchical listing of the metadata which represents a hierarchy of the corresponding files in a hierarchical file system.

86. A data processing system as in claim 83 wherein the menus include at least one hierarchical menu which has at least two levels of selectable options.

87. A data processing system as in claim 83 further comprising:

means for displaying search results in a window, the search results being segmented into groups which are separated by identifying headers.

88. A data processing system as in claim 81 further comprising:

means for receiving at least one input which associates a selected group of the metadata;

means for displaying a representation of the selected group of the metadata.

89. A data processing system as in claim 88 wherein the search input interface comprises a window having menus for selecting various search parameters and wherein the menus include identifiers for a plurality of fields in the metadata and wherein the representation is displayed in the window.

90. A data processing system as in claim 81 further comprising:

means for receiving an input of a first search for searching through the metadata;

means for saving the input of the first search to provide a saved input;

means for displaying a representation of the saved input which a user can activate to perform the first search.

91. A data processing system comprising,

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing a plurality of software components which are executable on the processor, the software components comprising;

a first plurality of application programs which are capable of creating a plurality of different data files;

a metadata management program coupled trough programming interfaces to the first plurality of application programs and coupled to a file system storage of metadata captured from files created by the first plurality of application programs, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first application gam of the first plurality of application programs differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second application program of the first plurality of application programs.

92. A data processing system as in claim 91 wherein the software components further comprise:

an operating system kernel coupled to the metadata management program the operating system kernel notifying the metadata management program of modifications to the plurality of different data files.

93. A data processing system as in claim 92 wherein the capturing of metadata for a first file is in response to the notifying, from the operating system kernel, with respect to the first file.

94. A data processing system as in claim 93 wherein the capturing is performed by a plurality of importers which are coupled to the metadata management program.

95. A data processing system as in claim 91 wherein the metadata management program provides information for the display of a search input interface and provides a search result for display.

96. A data processing system as in claim 95 wherein the search input interface and the search result are displayed within a single window.

97. A data processing system as in claim 91 wherein the meta ta management program is capable of exporting metadata, for files created by the first application program, back to each of the files created by the first application program, wherein the first application program, after the exporting, is capable of accessing the metadata for flies created by the first application program.

98. A data processing system as in claim 91 wherein the software components further comprise:

an indexing and content searching program which is capable of indexing content within files created by the first plurality of application programs and is capable of searching the content within the files created by the first plurality of application programs, and wherein the metadata management program is coupled to the indexing and content searching program to provide search inputs to the indexing and content searching program and to receive search results from the indexing and content searching program.

99. A data processing system as in claim 91 wherein the software components further comprise:

a plurality of importers which are coupled to the metadata management program to provide captured metadata from the first plurality of application programs to the metadata management program.

100. data processing system as in claim 99 wherein a first importer of the plurality of importers captures metadata from a first file created by the first application program in response to determining a first file type of the first file and wherein a second importer of the plurality of importers captures metadata from a second file created by the second application program in response to determining a second file type of the second file.

101. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application;

performing a search of the metadata and of non-metadata for the plurality of files either concurrently or in response to a single command.

102. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

receiving, by a software component, a call to import metadata from a file;

importing, by the software component, the metadata from the file created by the first application program into a metadata database wherein the metadata database includes metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications wherein a type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application.

103. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

receiving input for a search;

searching for search results as the input is being received, the searching being through a plurality of data files created by different software applications on a data processing system.

104. A method as in claim 103 wherein the searching is begun concurrently as a search query is entered and before entry of the search query is completed and wherein the searching is performed also through metadata from a plurality of files created by a plurality of different software applications, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first software application differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second software application.

105. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

receiving one or more inputs indicating a selection of a plurality of items;

receiving a command requesting both a New storage facility and an association of the plurality of items with the New storage facility;

creating the New storage facility and associating the plurality of items with the New storage facility in responses to receiving the command.

106. A method as in claim 105 wherein the command is a single command which specifies both the creating and the associating be performed and wherein the storage facility is one of (a) a directory, (b) a subdirectory;

or (c) a folder which represents a subdirectory.

107. A method as in claim 106 further comprising:

presenting a request to give the New storage facility a name; and

receiving an input which indicates the name.

108. A method as in claim 106 wherein a default path name and a default user name is given to the storage facility, and wherein the default user name includes the word “

folder.”

109. A method as in claim 105 wherein the receiving of the command is after the receiving of the one or more inputs indicating the selection and wherein the association is at least one of:

(a) copying the plurality of items into the New storage facility or (b) changing path names for the plurality of items to New path names determined by a path name for the New storage facility.

110. A method as in claim 105 wherein the receiving of the command is before the receiving of the one or more inputs.

111. A method as in claim 105 further comprising displaying a window which displays the contents of the New storage facility after the creating and the associating and wherein the plurality of items are the initial contents displayed in the window.

112. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

displaying a window having a plurality of first items and a plurality of second items;

displaying a control for selecting at least either a first type of view or a second type of view for at least one of the first items and the second items in the window;

displaying the plurality of first items in the first type of view within the window and displaying the plurality of second items in the second type of view within the window.

113. A method as in claim 112 wherein the window is a search results window and wherein the first type of view is an icon view and the second type of view is a list view.

114. method as in claim 113 wherein the first items are grouped together and separately from the second items which are grouped together.

115. A machine implemented method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by at least one software application which executes on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first type differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second type;

searching the metadata from the plurality of files.

116. A method as in claim 115 wherein the searching of the metadata occurs concurrently for the plurality of files.

117. A method as in claim 115 her comprising:

receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification.

118. A method as in claim 115 further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

119. A method as in claim 118 wherein the first software element is a plug in.

120. A method as in claim 115 further comprising:

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

121. A method as in claim 120 wherein the database is maintained in a flat file format in which the metadata is sequentially saved over time.

122. A method as in claim 115 wherein the metadata for files of the first type comprise information of a first type of information including at least a first and a second field and wherein the metadata for files of the second type comprise information of a second type of information including at least a third and a fourth field.

123. A method as in claim 115 wherein a first software application is an image display or processing program which creates files of the first type and the first field is for a color space identifier and the second field is for the width of the image in pixels and wherein a second software application is a word processing program which creates files of the second type and the third field is for an author identifier and dew fourth field is for keywords.

124. A method as in claim 117 further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing; and

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is trough the database.

125. A machine readable medium containing executable program instructions for causing a data processing system to perform a method of managing data, the method comprising:

capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by at least one software application which executes on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first type differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second type;

searching the metadata from the plurality of files.

126. A machine readable medium as in claim 125 wherein the searching of the metadata occurs concurrently for the plurality of files.

127. A machine readable medium as in claim 125, the method further comprising:

receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification.

128. A machine readable medium as in claim 125, the method further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

129. A machine readable medium as in claim 128 wherein the first software element is a plug in.

130. A machine readable medium as in claim 125, the method further comprising:

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

131. A machine readable medium as in claim 130 wherein the database is maintained in a flat file format in which the metadata is sequentially saved over time.

132. A machine readable medium as in claim 125 wherein the metadata for files of the first type comprise information of a first type of information including at least a fist and a second field and wherein the metadata for files of the second type comprise information of a second type of information including at least a third and a fourth field.

133. A machine readable medium as in claim 125 wherein a first software application is an image display or processing program which creates files of the first type and the first field is for a color space identifier and the second field is for the width of the image in pixels and wherein a second software application is a word processing program which creates files of the second type and the third field is for an author identifier and the fourth field is for keywords.

134. A machine readable medium as in claim 127, the method further comprising:

determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing, and

storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is trough the database.

135. A data processing system comprising:

means for capturing metadata from a plurality of files created by at least one software application which executes on a data processing system, wherein the type of information in metadata for files of a first type differs from the type of information in metadata for files of a second type;

means for searching the metadata from the plurality of files.

136. A data processing system as in claim 135 wherein the searching of the metadata occurs concurrently for the plurality of files.

137. A data processing system as in claim 135 further comprising:

means for receiving a notification from an operating system element that a file has changed or been created or been deleted, and wherein the capturing is in response to the receiving of the notification.

138. A data processing system as in claim 135 further comprising:

means for determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing.

139. A data processing system as in claim 138 wherein the first software element is a plug in.

140. A data processing system as in claim 135 further comprising:

means for storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.

141. A data processing system as in claim 140 wherein the database is maintained in a flat file format in which the metadata is sequentially saved over time.

142. A data processing system as in claim 135 wherein the metadata for files of the first type comprise information of a first type of information including at least a first and a second field and wherein the metadata for files of the second type comprise information of a second type of information including at least a third and a fourth field.

143. A data processing system as in claim 135 wherein a first software application is an image display or processing program which creates files of the first type and the first field is for a color space identifier and the second field is for the width of the image in pixels and wherein a second software application is a word processing program which creates files of the second type and the third field is for an author identifier and the fourth field is for keywords.

144. A data processing system as in claim 137 fewer comprising:

means for determining a type of a file having metadata and, in response to determining the type, selecting a first software element from a group of software elements, wherein the first software element performs said capturing; and

means for storing the metadata into a database and wherein the searching of the metadata is through the database.