Abstract: An improved document and image management system (“DIM system”) is provided for use by a digital computer in combination with a video display or other suitable output means to provide an system that operates, preferably, under the Microsoft Windows® shell environment and which, further, is cross-platform capable and application independent. With respect to the data, document, or image to be managed, the invention operates independently of both the computer platform and the application software therein operating that was used to create the data, document, or image. The programming method of the present invention obtains the indices needed to create an image from the application running on the Windows® desktop; and, thereafter, electronically files, or otherwise processes, the image. Such functionality is provided by targeting a data stream that is refreshing the graphical user interface (“GUI”) of a screen running on the Windows® desktop.