Most recently used list for attaching files to messages

Abstract

A user may select an attachment for an electronic message from a most recently used (MRU) list of files. For example, when a user is composing an electronic message, they may select a file to attach to the message from the MRU list. The recently used files that are included within the MRU list may be related to or more applications/locations and/or one or more computing devices. For example, the MRU list may include files accessed by one or more different authoring applications and/or files that have recently been accessed/created that are associated with the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for selecting an attachment for an electronic message, comprising:
 displaying an electronic message;   displaying a most recently used (MRU) list that comprises a list of files;   receiving a selection of a file that is displayed within the MRU list;   attaching the selected file to the electronic message; and   sending the electronic message to a recipient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the MRU list comprises displaying the MRU list from a messaging application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating the MRU list from files recently accessed by different applications on client computing devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the different applications on the client computing device are applications comprising at least one of: a word processing application; a spreadsheet application; and a messaging application. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating the MRU list from files recently stored on a client computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the MRU list comprises displaying a name of each file and a time when the file was recently used. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining preferences that indicate a type of file and a type of application to include within the MRU list. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining the MRU list from another application. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein attaching the selected file to the electronic message comprises attaching a link to the selected file. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for selecting an attachment for an electronic message, comprising:
 displaying an electronic message;   displaying a most recently used (MRU) list that comprises a list of files;   receiving a selection of a file that is displayed within the MRU list;   attaching the selected file to the electronic message; and   sending the electronic message to a recipient.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising creating the MRU list from files recently accessed by different applications accessed from client computing devices. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein the different applications accessed from the client computing device are authoring applications comprising at least one of: a word processing application; a spreadsheet application; and a messaging application. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising creating the MRU list from files recently accessed from a client computing device. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein displaying the MRU list comprises displaying a name of each file and a time when the file was recently used. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , further comprising obtaining preferences that indicate a type of file and a type of application to include within the MRU list. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10 , wherein attaching the selected file to the electronic message comprises attaching a link to the selected file. 
     
     
         17 . A system for selecting an attachment for an electronic message, comprising:
 a network connection that is configured to connect to a network;   a processor, memory, and a computer-readable storage medium;   an operating environment stored on the computer-readable storage medium and executing on the processor;   a messaging application; and   an attachment manager operating in conjunction with the messaging application that is configured to perform actions comprising:
 displaying an electronic message that is being composed; 
 in response to a selection, displaying a most recently used (MRU) list that comprises a list of files; 
 receiving a selection of a file that is displayed within the MRU list; 
 attaching the selected file to the electronic message; and 
 sending the electronic message to a recipient. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising creating the MRU list from files recently accessed by different applications and files accessed from a client computing device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the different applications accessed from the client computing device are authoring applications comprising at least one of: a word processing application; a spreadsheet application; and a messaging application. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein attaching the selected file to the electronic message comprises attaching a link to the selected file.