System and method utilizing virtual folders

A non-volatile computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components for implementing a method of exposing item files to a user, the item files having associated metadata properties, the method comprising:

• automatically selecting a first metadata property based on default information corresponding to a user of the computer system, wherein the first metadata property describes file items stored within a plurality of physical memory locations and non-file items stored within a relational database, the non-file items comprising one or more e-mails;
• receiving an indication, provided by a user, of a portion of the plurality of physical memory locations to include in a search scope used to search for one or more file items and one or more non-file items that have the selected first metadata property;
• in accordance with the indication of the portion of the plurality of physical memory locations to include in the search scope, searching in the relational database for the one or more file items and the one or more non-file items that have the selected first metadata property utilizing a computing process, the relational database storing metadata properties of file items stored within the plurality of physical memory locations;
• drawing the one or more file items and the one or more non-file items that have the selected first metadata property, wherein each of the one or more file items is drawn from a physical memory location at which the file item is stored and each of the one or more non-file items is drawn from the relational database at which the non-file item is stored;
• providing within a file system user interface a first virtual folder display object that represents the collection of the one or more file items and the one or more non-file items that have the first metadata property, wherein the first virtual folder display object exposes the one or more file items and the one or more non-file items having the first metadata property despite physical locations of the items;
• and
• receiving an indication from a user, via a link, to toggle from the first virtual folder display object to a physical file representation.

A computing system for displaying items, the computer system comprising:

• a processor and memory;
• means for automatically selecting a first metadata property based on default information corresponding to a user of the computer system, wherein the first metadata property describes at least a portion of more than one item, wherein each of the more than one items comprises a file or a folder, including a first item stored in a first physical location and a second item stored in a second physical location;
• means for searching for items, within a relational database, that have the selected first metadata property utilizing a process on a computing device and that correspond with a search scope designated by a user, the relational database storing metadata properties of the more than one item that are stored within one or more physical memory locations and storing non-file items comprising emails, contacts, or a combination thereof, wherein the search scope designated by the user comprises a portion of the one or more physical memory locations in which the more than one item is stored;
• means for drawing the items that have the selected first metadata property, wherein file items are drawn from the corresponding physical memory location at which the file item is stored and non-file items are drawn from the relational database at which the non-file items are stored;
• and
• means for providing within a file system user interface a first virtual folder display object that represents the collection of items that have the first metadata property, the first virtual folder display object displaying the first and second items despite physical locations of the items, wherein the user can simultaneously manipulate the items by manipulating the first virtual folder display object, and wherein manipulating the first virtual folder display object comprises clicking and dragging, copying, or pasting the first virtual folder display object.