Abstract: Systems and techniques are disclosed that allow a user to enter a query in a query input region of a graphical user interface and respond to the query by automatically directing it to an appropriate database, saving a user from having to choose among the myriad databases within the system. The system provides shareable folders for not only selected documents or excerpts from documents, but also for annotations and markups associated with documents. The system also enables a user to set permissions as to whether to allow documents, as well annotations and markups, private or publicly available to other users. Further, the system allows a user to specify an action that is to occur once a particular event occurs affecting a document, annotation or markup.