Upload and share files to a sharing service using a messaging client

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed on the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
• cause a display of a message interface on the apparatus, the message interface configured to compose an electronic message that is to be delivered by a messaging service to a recipient, the message interface comprising a user interface element dedicated to initiate sharing of a file via a sharing service without initiating attachment of the file to the electronic message, the sharing service configured to store shared files and a plurality of user records, wherein individual user records of the plurality of user records are associated with individual files of the shared files,
• based at least in part on detecting a user selection of the user interface element, cause a display of a plurality of files, the plurality of files including at least the shared files,
• prior to adding one or more graphical representations of one or more links to the electronic message and receiving a user instruction to send the electronic message, obtain the one or more links and insert the one or more graphical representations of the one or more links in the electronic message, wherein the one or more links are operative to access the file while stored at the sharing service,
• determine a user record associated with the file, the user record comprising at least user comments corresponding to the file,
• determine user permissions associated with the user record, the user permissions defining access rights to at least the user comments,
• cause display of the one or more graphical representations of the one or more links within the electronic message within the message interface before receiving the user instruction to send the electronic message,
• based at least in part on the user permissions, cause display of at least a portion of the user comments, and
• cause the file to be communicated from a computing device to the sharing service for storage based at least in part on the sharing service not storing a latest version of the file.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a first computer, cause the first computer to:

• cause a display of a message interface on the first computer, the message interface configured to compose an electronic message that is to be delivered by a messaging service to a recipient, the message interface comprising a user interface element dedicated to initiate sharing of a file via a sharing service without initiating attachment of the file to the electronic message, the sharing service configured to store shared files and a plurality of user records, wherein individual user records of the plurality of user records are associated with individual files of the shared files;
• based at least in part on detecting a user selection of the user interface element, cause a display of a plurality of files, the plurality of files including at least the shared files;
• receive a selection of a file from the displayed plurality of files;
• determine a user record associated with the file, the user record comprising at least user comments corresponding to the file;
• determine user permissions associated with the user record, the user permissions defining access rights to at least the user comments;
• prior to adding one or more graphical representations of one or more links to the file to the electronic message and receiving a user instruction to send the electronic message, cause a second computer to communicate the file from the second computer to the sharing service for storage of the file at the sharing service based at least in part on the sharing service not storing a current version of the file;
• obtain the one or more links operative to access the file stored at the sharing service;
• insert one or more graphical representations of the one or more links in the electronic message;
• cause display of the one or more graphical representations of the one or more links within the electronic message within the message interface before receiving the user instruction to send the electronic message;
• and
• based at least in part on the user permissions, cause display of at least a portion of the user comments.