Automatic file version verification within electronic mail

A computer-implemented method performed within a file repository located externally to a client computer system, comprising:

• forwarding, responsive to a download request from the client computer system, a file including a version identifier and a storage location that specifies a particular location within the file repository in which a master version of the file is stored;
• and
• forwarding, responsive to a second request from the client computer system, the master version of the file, wherein
• the client computer system initiates, after receiving the file, a first operation using the file stored within the client computer system,
• the client computer system performs, responsive to the initiating, a file version verification operation including:
• obtaining, from within the file, the metadata including a version identifier and a storage location that specifies a particular location within a file repository in which a master version of the file is stored,
• identifying, using the storage location, the file repository located external to the client computer system that includes the master version of the file,
• determining, by the client computer system, that the master version of the file is more recent than the file stored within the client computer system, and
• forwarding, based upon the determining, the second request to the file repository downloading, to the client computer system and based upon the determining, the master version of the file, and
• the client computer system resumes, after downloading the master file, the first operation using the downloaded master version of the file.

A file repository located externally to a client computer system, comprising:

• a hardware processor configured to initiate the following executable actions:
• forwarding, responsive to a download request from the client computer system, a file including a version identifier and a storage location that specifies a particular location within the file repository in which a master version of the file is stored;
• and
• forwarding, responsive to a second request from the client computer system, the master version of the file, wherein
• the client computer system initiates, after receiving the file, a first operation using the file stored within the client computer system,
• the client computer system performs, responsive to the initiating, a file version verification operation including:
• obtaining, from within the file, the metadata including a version identifier and a storage location that specifies a particular location within a file repository in which a master version of the file is stored,
• identifying, using the storage location, the file repository located external to the client computer system that includes the master version of the file,
• determining, by the client computer system, that the master version of the file is more recent than the file stored within the client computer system, and
• forwarding, based upon the determining, the second request to the file repository downloading, to the client computer system and based upon the determining, the master version of the file, and
• the client computer system resumes, after downloading the master file, the first operation using the downloaded master version of the file.

A computer program product, comprising:

• a hardware storage device having stored therein computer readable program code,
• the computer readable program code, which when executed by a file repository located externally to a client computer system, causes the file repository to perform:
• a hardware processor configured to initiate the following executable actions:
• forwarding, responsive to a download request from the client computer system, a file including a version identifier and a storage location that specifies a particular location within the file repository in which a master version of the file is stored;
• and
• forwarding, responsive to a second request from the client computer system, the master version of the file, wherein
• the client computer system initiates, after receiving the file, a first operation using the file stored within the client computer system,
• the client computer system performs, responsive to the initiating, a file version verification operation including:
• obtaining, from within the file, the metadata including a version identifier and a storage location that specifies a particular location within a file repository in which a master version of the file is stored,
• identifying, using the storage location, the file repository located external to the client computer system that includes the master version of the file,
• determining, by the client computer system, that the master version of the file is more recent than the file stored within the client computer system, and
• forwarding, based upon the determining, the second request to the file repository downloading, to the client computer system and based upon the determining, the master version of the file, and
• the client computer system resumes, after downloading the master file, the first operation using the downloaded master version of the file.