File system shell

• US 7,409,644 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guzak, Chris J., Ballou, Nathaniel H., Sheldon, David J., Miner, Patrice L., Beam, Tyler K., Banks, Richard M., Hally, Judson Craig, Moore, Jason F., Kurtz, James Brian, De Vorchik, Davd G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/440,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 345/744, 715/744, 715/774, 715/853
• US Class Current: 715/774
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item. An object previewer in a shell browser is provided which is configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types.

Claims

1. In a computer system with a display and a memory for storing items, a method for presenting collections of the items, comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library into a plurality of groups;

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library,

wherein the groups of items are each contained within a different virtual folder associated with respective ones of the specified metadata properties, and the one or more tools includes a tool configured to copy additional items into one of the virtual folders responsive to associating another metadata property with the virtual folder; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a method for representing the items to a user, the method for representing the items to the user comprising:

providing a database that allows both non-file items and file items to be searched by a query;

receiving a query, and in response to the query drawing both non-file items and file items that match the query; and

presenting both the non-file items and file items that match the query on the display.

10. A system for exposing items that are stored in a memory to a user, comprising:

a folder processor that obtains queries from a user;

a relational database for storing information about items,

wherein;

the folder processor obtains a query from a user and passes the query to the relational database, wherein the query is a default query identified in a registry;

the relational database provides results back to the folder processor; and

based on the results from the relational database, the folder processor provides the results to the user as virtual folders; and

a virtual address bar for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system, the virtual address bar comprising;

a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

one or more additional interactive segments of the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a previewer for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer comprising:

a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

15. The system of claim 10, further comprising a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a method for presenting collections of the items, the method of presenting collections of the items comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library; and

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

19. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items, the items having associated metadata properties, a method of exposing the items to a user, the method comprising:

responsive to a user opening a first virtual folder, selecting a first metadata property based on default information corresponding to the user;

searching for items that have the selected first metadata property;

providing the first virtual folder display object that represents the collection of items that have the first metadata property; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

26. The method of claim 19, further comprising a method for presenting collections of the items, the method of presenting collections of the items comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library; and

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library.

27. The method of claim 19, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

28. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items, a method for manipulating the items, comprising:

representing groups of items as virtual folders;

providing at least a first defined action that can be performed for direct manipulation of a virtual folder, wherein when the first defined action is performed, the virtual folder is manipulated as directed by the performed action, wherein the first defined action is adding a metadata property to the virtual folder, and wherein in response to performance of the first defined action additional items having the metadata property are copied to the virtual folder; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

35. The method of claim 28, further comprising a method for presenting collections of the items, the method of presenting collections of the items comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library; and

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library.

36. The method of claim 28, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

37. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items with metadata properties, a method of filtering items, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term;

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items, including displaying a time-rotating sample of a plurality of metadata associated with the items; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path ti items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

43. The method of claim 37, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

44. The method of claim 37, further comprising a method for presenting collections of the items, the method of presenting collections of the items comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library; and

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library.

45. The method of claim 37, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

46. In a computer system having a display and a memory for storing items, a method of viewing selected items, the method comprising:

receiving a user input defining a search term;

searching the stored items based on the search term;

displaying representations of the items found from the search;

storing a link to a collection of the items found from the search;

presenting the link on the display such that by clicking on the link a user can return to the view of the desired collection of items, and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first a interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

47. The method of claim 46, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

48. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

51. The method of claim 46, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

53. The method of claim 46, further comprising a method for presenting collections of the items, the method of presenting collections of the items comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library; and

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library.

54. The method of claim 46, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

55. In a computer system with a display and a memory for storing items, a method for representing the items to a user, comprising:

providing a database that allows both non-file items and file items to be searched by a query;

receiving a query, wherein the query is a default query identified in a registry, and in response to the query drawing both non-file items and file items that match the query;

presenting both the non-file items and file items that match the query on the display; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

57. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

58. The method of claim 55, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

59. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

60. The method of claim 55, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

61. The method of claim 55, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

62. The method of claim 55, further comprising a method for presenting collections of the items, the method of presenting collections of the items comprising:

creating a library to contain items with one or more specified metadata properties;

automatically grouping items with the one or more specified metadata properties into the library; and

providing one or more tools for manipulating items in the library.

63. The method of claim 55, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

64. A method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the method comprising:

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items;

adding one or more additional interactive segments to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments; and

displaying a plurality of user-selectable quick links, separate from the virtual address bar, wherein each quick link is associated with a different subset of the items; and

responsive to a user selecting one of the quick links, displaying the subset of items associated with the selected quick link,

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein a filter is provided on the display that can be selected by a user to filter items based on the metadata property specified by the filter.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein a library is provided that includes a collection of items and a set of tools for manipulating the items of the library.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the items in a virtual folder may be physically stored in memories at different physical locations.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the different physical locations comprise a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the items comprise both file items and non-file items.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the non-file items comprise at least one of contacts or e-mails.

71. The method of claim 64, further comprising a shell browser method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the shell browser method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item; and

providing a control for user modification of the displayed metadata.

72. The method of claim 64, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

73. A computer-implemented method for enabling a user to modify metadata within a shell browser, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of items;

receiving a first input from the user representing a selection of at least one displayed item;

displaying metadata associated with the at least one selected item;

displaying, in response to a user hover input, a control for user modification of the displayed metadata; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein a filter is provided on the display that can be selected by a user to filter items based on the metadata property specified by the filter.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein a quick link is provided on the display that can be selected by a user to view a specified collection of items.

76. The method of claim 73, wherein a library is provided that includes a collection of items and a set of tools for manipulating the items of the library.

77. The method of claim 73, wherein the items in a virtual folder may be physically stored in memories at different physical locations.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the different physical locations comprise a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein the items comprise both file items and non-file items.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the non-file items comprise at least one of contacts or e-mails.

81. The method of claim 73, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

82. A computer-implemented method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the method comprising:

providing an operating system with a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types;

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer that operates in the shell browser for at least one of the multiple item types; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein a filter is provided on the display that can be selected by a user to filter items based on the metadata property specified by the filter.

84. The method of claim 82, wherein a quick link is provided on the display that can be selected by a user to view a specified collection of items.

85. The method of claim 82, wherein a library is provided that includes a collection of items and a set of tools for manipulating the items of the library.

86. The method of claim 82, wherein the items in a virtual folder may be physically stored in memories at different physical locations.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the different physical locations comprise a present computer and at least one of a different computer, a location on a network, and an external storage device.

88. The method of claim 82, wherein the items comprise both file items and non-file items.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the non-file items comprise at least one of contacts or e-mails.

90. The method of claim 82, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

91. In a computer system with a display and a memory for storing items, the items being of a plurality of different types, a method for presenting libraries of the items, comprising:

providing libraries for containing items of similar types;

providing a similar set of UI features for each of the libraries, wherein the set of UI features includes a control for modifying metadata of one of the items that is displayed in response to a user hover input, and wherein the set UI features further includes a control that displays a time-rotating sample of a plurality of metadata associated with at least some of the items; and

a virtual address bar method for providing a virtual path to items stored in a computer file system using a virtual address bar, the virtual address bar method comprising;

displaying a virtual address bar operable to include a first interactive segment, wherein the first interactive segment references items on the computer file system according to a corresponding filter for selecting items; and

adding one or more additional interactive segment to the virtual address bar, wherein each additional interactive segment further restricts the items referenced by the preceding interactive segments;

wherein the first interactive segment and the one or more additional interactive segments comprise a virtual path.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the different types comprise at least two of documents, images and music.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein the similar set of UI features includes a feature for creating new categories.

94. The method of claim 91, wherein the similar set of UI features includes a feature for altering a way that the items are displayed.

95. The method of claim 91, wherein in addition to containing items of similar types, the libraries may also contain items of different types.

96. The method of claim 91, further comprising providing a shell browser, the shell browser comprising:

a window which displays a group of items, wherein the window also displays metadata values associated with one or more of the displayed items; and

an edit control which permits user modification of at least a portion of the metadata values displayed in the window.

97. The method of claim 91, further comprising a previewer method for enabling the use of third party previewers in a shell browser which supports multiple item types, the previewer method comprising:

providing a shell browser having a default previewer for the multiple item types; and

providing an extensibility mechanism which enables a third party to develop an alternative previewer for at least one of the multiple item types.

98. The method of claim 91, further comprising providing a shell browser configured to display a plurality of items representing multiple item types, the shell browser comprising:

a default previewer which provides a standard level of functionality for multiple item types; and

an extensibility mechanism which enables functionality beyond the standard level provided by the default previewer for one or more of the multiple item types.

99. The method of claim 91, further comprising providing a virtual address bar user interface control for selecting items accessible to a computer system for display, the virtual address bar comprising:

a plurality of interactive segments, wherein each interactive segment corresponds to a filter for selecting items for display.

100. The method of claim 91, further comprising a method of filtering items, the method of filtering items comprising:

providing a plurality of display objects on the display that each represent one or more items;

filtering the items represented by the display objects based on a filter term; and

modifying the display objects that are provided on the display so as to represent the items that remain after the filtering of the items.

101. The method of claim 91, further comprising a method for displaying items, the method for displaying items comprising:

defining a scope of the physical memory locations from which items are to be drawn, the scope comprising a present computer memory and at least one other physical location;

receiving a query, and in response to the query, drawing items from the physical locations as defined in the scope; and

presenting the items drawn from the query in a view on the display.

102. The method of claim 91, further comprising a method for representing the items to a user, the method for representing the items to the user comprising:

providing a database that allows both non-file items and file items to be searched by a query;

receiving a query, and in response to the query drawing both non-file items and file items that match the query; and

presenting both the non-file items and file items that match the query on the display.