Abstract: A method and system for managing a file lifecycle is disclosed. The method incorporates a virtual file cabinet having virtual drawers. Files are moved from drawer to drawer throughout their lifecycle in accordance with policies associated with each drawer. The files are moved automatically and as such, a file's lifecycle is managed from file creation to file deletion in an automated fashion. By using an archiving device such as magneto optical storage media, the files are automatically moved to their final archived location in an archiving drawer once certain policies of their present drawer are met. The system is an electronic system employing the inventive method.

Abstract: A format structure for storing retrievably encoded data on a recording medium is disclosed. A start field for indicating the start of a data file is provided. Immediately following the start field there provided an index field for storing indexing data respecting the data file. In the index field a sequence of one or more positions of other start fields leading in one direction from a current position on the medium toward one end of the medium is stored. Immediately following the index field there is a field for storage data, which forms the data file. A method for storing encoded data on a storage medium is also disclosed. The last file stored on the medium is located. The index field of the last stored file is then retrieved. The index field associated therewith is duplicated for later use. The system then moves the storage medium to the end of the last stored file. At the current position of the medium a filemark is inserted.