Data previewing before recalling large data files

Abstract

Techniques for providing data preview before recalling large data files are disclosed. In one aspect, a data file is made accessible while being offline by converting the data file from a native format to a preview format, storing the data file in the preview format in a primary storage that is locally available and moving, after the conversion to the preview format, the data file in the native format to a secondary storage. When a viewing request is received for the data file, the data file in the preview format is displayed to fulfill the viewing request.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 based on a data storage capacity of a computer that comprises one or more hardware processors,
 determining that a data file is to be converted from a native format to a preview format, 
 wherein the data file in the preview format occupies less data storage capacity than the data file in the native format; 
   converting the data file from the native format to the preview format;   storing the data file in the preview format at a primary data storage device of the computer;   after the converting of the data file from the native format to the preview format:
 copying the data file in the native format from the primary data storage device to a secondary data storage device, 
 updating information about a location in the secondary data storage device of the data file in the native format, 
 deleting the data file in the native format from the primary data storage device, and 
 wherein the secondary data storage device is offline to the computer; and 
   at the computer, receiving a request for the data file; and   responsive to the request, providing the data file in the preview format for display at the computer.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: in a view of a folder depicting files available in the folder, providing a cue that indicates whether the data file is available in one of: the preview format and the native format. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: in a view of a folder depicting files available in the folder, providing a cue that indicates that the data file is available in the preview format as distinct from the native format. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: providing a view of a folder depicting a first icon that corresponds to each data file available in the folder and a second and smaller icon that indicates whether the corresponding data file is available in one of: the preview format and the native format. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: providing a view of a folder depicting an icon that corresponds to each data file available in the folder, wherein for the data file in the preview format, a corresponding first icon comprises a second and smaller icon that indicates that the data file is available in the preview format as distinct from the native format. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: in a view of a folder depicting files available in the folder, providing a cue that indicates that the data file is available in the preview format, as distinct from the native format, wherein the cue comprises an audio tone. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein while it is offline to the computer, the secondary data storage device is not mounted to a drive of the computer. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising: obtaining a resource profile of the computer that contains the data storage capacity of the computer. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the data file is to be converted from the native format to the preview format is based on one or more predetermined rules. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising: regenerating the data file from the secondary data storage device to the native format, and storing the data file in the native format at the primary data storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein information about locating the data file in the secondary data storage device is associated with the data file in the preview format. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 obtaining a resource profile that comprises primary data storage capacity associated with a computer, wherein the computer comprises one or more hardware processors;   based on the resource profile, determining that a data file stored at a first location at a primary data storage device is to be converted from a native format to a preview format,   wherein the primary data storage device is one of: accessible to the computer and part of the computer,   wherein the data file in the preview format occupies less data storage capacity than the data file in the native format;   converting the data file from the native format to the preview format;   storing the data file in the preview format at the primary data storage device;   after the converting of the data file from the native format to the preview format:
 copying the data file in the native format from the primary data storage device to a secondary data storage device, 
 updating information that indicates a second location of the data file in the native format at the secondary data storage device as distinct from the first location of the data file in the native format at the primary data storage device, and 
 deleting the data file in the native format from the primary data storage device, and 
 wherein the secondary data storage device is offline to the computer; and 
   at the computer, receiving a request for the data file; and   responsive to the request, providing the data file in the preview format for display at the computer.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  further comprising: in a view of a folder depicting files available in the folder, providing a cue that indicates that the data file is available in the preview format as distinct from the native format. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  further comprising: providing a view of a folder depicting a first icon that corresponds to each data file available in the folder and a second and smaller icon that indicates whether the corresponding data file is available in the preview format or, alternatively, in the native format. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  further comprising: providing a view of a folder depicting an icon that corresponds to each data file available in the folder, wherein for the data file in the preview format, a corresponding first icon comprises a second and smaller icon that indicates that the data file is available in the preview format as distinct from the native format. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  further comprising: in a view of a folder depicting files available in the folder, providing a cue that indicates that the data file is available in the preview format, as distinct from the native format, wherein the cue comprises an audio tone. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein while it is offline to the computer, the secondary data storage device is not mounted to a drive of the computer. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12  further comprising: recalling the data file from the secondary data storage device, and storing the data file in the native format at the primary data storage device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , wherein information about locating the data file in the secondary data storage device is associated with the data file in the preview format. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , wherein the information comprises a resource locator, and wherein the resource locator enables access to the data file in the secondary data storage device.