Representing attachments of objects in a collaboration system using metadata copies

A method for attaching objects in a computer, the method comprising:

• receiving a command to attach a second object in a second folder to a first object in a first folder, the second object having attached thereto a group of third objects;
• wherein each of the first object, the second object and the third objects are comprised among a plurality of objects stored in a memory of the computer, each object in the plurality of objects comprising content and metadata, the metadata comprising an identifier of said each object;
• wherein the first object comprises first metadata and first content, the second object comprises second metadata and second content, and each third object in said group comprises third metadata and third content;
• responsive to receipt of the command, preparing a new second metadata based on a portion of said second metadata in the second object without copying the second content of the second object, and storing in the memory, the new second metadata identifying at least the second object and further identifying a path to the first object traversed to issue the command to attach the second object, the path comprising a sequence of identifiers of objects in order of attachment;
• wherein a group of existing third metadatas are present in the memory prior to receipt of the command, the group of existing third metadatas representing existing attachments between the second object and the group of third objects;
• and
• preparing another group of new third metadatas based on portions of the existing third metadatas in the third objects without copying content therein, and storing said another group of new third metadatas in the memory, each new third metadata in said another group identifying at least a third object and the second object.

A computer programmed with software to be executed to attach objects in, the computer comprising:

• means for receiving a command to attach a second object in a second folder to a first object in a first folder, the second object having attached thereto a group of third objects;
• wherein each of the first object, the second object and the third objects are comprised among a plurality of objects stored in a memory of the computer, each object in the plurality of objects comprising content and metadata, the metadata comprising an identifier of said each object;
• wherein the first object comprises first metadata and first content, the second object comprises second metadata and second content, and each third object in said group comprises third metadata and third content;
• means for preparing a new second metadata based on a portion of said second metadata in the second object without copying said second content of the second object, and for storing in said memory, the new second metadata identifying at least the second object and further identifying a path to the first object traversed to issue the command to attach the second object, the path comprising a sequence of identifiers of objects in order of attachment;
• wherein a group of existing third metadatas are present in said memory prior to receipt of said command, said group of existing third metadatas representing existing attachments between the second object and the group of third objects;
• and
• means for preparing another group of new third metadatas based on portions of the existing third metadatas in the third objects without copying content therein, and for storing said another group of new third metadatas in said memory, each new third metadata in said another group identifying at least a third object and the second object.