Methods and systems for managing data

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata. In one exemplary method, metadata from files created by several different software applications are captured, and the captured metadata is searched. The type of information in metadata for one type of file differs from the type of information in metadata for another type of file. Other methods are described and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine implemented method comprising:
 receiving a first search query in a first search input field displayed by a first application executing on a device;   performing a first search in response to the first search query and displaying first search results from the first search in the first application;   receiving a selection in the first application of an object in the first search results;   displaying text from the object within a text processing application in response to the selection of the object, the text processing application being different than the first application;   receiving, within the text processing application, a selection of an input for a second search;   performing the second search using the input for the second search;   displaying, within the text processing application, second search results from the second search.   
     
     
         2 . The method as in  claim 2  wherein the selection of the input for the second search is through a pop-up menu which appears associated with the selection of the input and wherein the text processing application is capable of creating a new text document which contains character codes which represent text characters. 
     
     
         3 . The method as in  claim 2  wherein the first search is performed through metadata for a plurality of different files having different file types such that the type of data in metadata for one file type is different than the type of data in metadata for another file type and wherein the first search is a substantially system wide search and wherein the input for the second search comprises a modified first search query. 
     
     
         4 . A machine implemented method comprising:
 receiving a first search query in a first search input field displayed by a first application executing on a device;   performing a first search in response to the first search query and displaying first search results from the first search in the first application;   receiving a selection in the first application of an object in the first search results;   displaying content within a second application in response to the selection in the first search results; and   receiving, within the second application, a selection of an input for a second search;   performing the second search using the input for the second search;   displaying, within the second application, second search results from the second search.   
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 4  wherein the second search is launched from within the second application. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 5  wherein the first search is for data or metadata of files in the system and wherein the input for the second search comprises a modified first search query in a second search input field displayed by the second application. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 6  wherein the first search is performed through metadata for a plurality of different files having different file types such that the type of data in metadata for one type of file is different than the type of data in metadata for another type of file. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 6  wherein the input for the second search comprises text currently highlighted in the second application. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 7  wherein a user is automatically presented with a list of items associated with the second application or the file being processed by the second application and given a choice to select the input for the second search 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 6  wherein the first search is a system wide search by a first application which is different than the second application and the first search input field is different than the second search field. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 10  wherein the first search searches through items each having a persistent identifier. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 10  wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying, within the second application, the first search query in the second search input field. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving modifications of the displayed first search query in the second search input field to create the input for the second search. 
 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine readable medium storing executable program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method, the method comprising:
 receiving a first search query in a first search input field displayed by a first application executing on a device;   performing a first search in response to the first search query and displaying first search results from the first search in the first application;   receiving a selection in the first application of an object in the first search results;   displaying content within a second application in response to the selection in the first search results; and   receiving, within the second application, a selection of an input for a second search;   performing the second search using the input for the second search;   displaying, within the second application, second search results from the second search.   
     
     
         15 . The medium as in  claim 14  wherein the second search is launched from within the second application. 
     
     
         16 . The medium as in  claim 15  wherein the first search is for data or metadata of files in the system and wherein the input for the second search comprises a modified first search query in a second search input field displayed by the second application. 
     
     
         17 . The medium as in  claim 16  wherein the first search is performed through metadata for a plurality of different files having different file types such that the type of data in metadata for one type of file is different than the type of data in metadata for another type of file. 
     
     
         18 . The medium as in  claim 16  wherein the input for the second search comprises text currently highlighted in the second application. 
     
     
         19 . The medium as in  claim 17  wherein a user is automatically presented with a list of items associated with the second application or the file being processed by the second application and given a choice to select the input for the second search 
     
     
         20 . The medium as in  claim 16  wherein the first search is a system wide search by a first application which is different than the second application and the first search input field is different than the second search field. 
     
     
         21 . The medium as in  claim 20  wherein the first search searches through items each having a persistent identifier. 
     
     
         22 . The medium as in  claim 20  wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying, within the second application, the first search query in the second search input field. 
 
     
     
         23 . The medium as in  claim 22  wherein the method further comprises:
 receiving modifications of the displayed first search query in the second search input field to create the input for the second search.