Methods and systems for managing data

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing an index database. In one exemplary method, an index database is stored on a machine readable volume with an operating system and the files which have been indexed, and then the volume is, after the storing, made available for distribution to licensees or customers. In this manner, the volume will include a previously created index database, allowing a user to begin use of the index database without having to perform an indexing operation.

1 . A method for handling data, the method comprising: 
 storing on a machine readable volume an Operating System (OS) and files and an index created from the files wherein the files include files of different file types;    making the volume, after the storing, available for distribution to licensees or customers.    
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the index is searchable and the volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the volume and wherein the volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the volume is distributed with a manufactured computer system having a plurality of hardware components.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the files are not help files and are user accessible.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the storing comprises a block copying operation which copies the files and the index onto the machine readable volume.  
   
   
       7 . A method as in  claim 1  further comprising: adopting the index, by an index management software, as the index management software's index database, the adopting occurring before making the volume available.  
   
   
       8 . A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method for handling data, the method comprising: 
 storing on a machine readable volume an Operating System (OS) and files and an index created from the files wherein the files include files of different file types;    making the volume, after the storing, available for distribution to licensees or customers.    
   
   
       9 . A medium as in  claim 8  wherein the index is searchable and the volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the volume and wherein the volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files.  
   
   
       10 . A medium as in  claim 9  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type.  
   
   
       11 . A medium as in  claim 8  wherein the volume is distributed with a manufactured computer system having a plurality of hardware components.  
   
   
       12 . A medium as in  claim 8  wherein the files are not help files.  
   
   
       13 . A medium as in  claim 8  wherein the storing comprises a block copying operation which copies the files and the index onto the machine readable volume.  
   
   
       14 . A medium as in  claim 8  the method further comprising: adopting the index, by an index management software, as the index management software's index database, the adopting occurring before making the volume available.  
   
   
       15 . A data processing system comprising: 
 means for storing on a machine readable volume an Operating System (OS) and files and an index created from the files wherein the files include files of different file types;    means for making the volume, after the storing, available for distribution to licensees or customers.    
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 15  wherein the index is searchable and the volume is a bootable volume which boots a data processing system to run the OS on the volume and wherein the volume also stores metadata for the files and wherein the files are user editable such that a user can modify the files by storing new or modified information in the files.  
   
   
       17 . A system as in  claim 16  wherein the metadata is for a plurality of different file types such that metadata for one file type is different than metadata for another file type.  
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 13  wherein the volume is distributed with a manufactured computer system having a plurality of hardware components.  
   
   
       19 . A system as in  claim 15  wherein the storing comprises a block copying operation which copies the files and the index onto the machine readable volume.  
   
   
       20 . A system as in  claim 15  wherein the storing comprises a block copying operation which copies the files and the index onto the machine readable volume.  
   
   
       21 . A system as in  claim 15  further comprising: means for adopting the index, by an index management software, as the index management software's index database, the adopting occurring before making the volume available.