Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for managing e-mail attachments in a data transmission system including a data transmission network and at least one workstation connected thereto and wherein a user of the workstation can receive e-mails from at least one server within the network, at least one e-mail having a document attached thereto. The system includes a system for creating an entry in a document references file containing a reference to the document when the document is detached from the e-mail, the entry containing variable parameters, a system for generating an icon linked to the entry in the document references file, the icon being displayed when the e-mail is displayed, and a continuously running daemon for detecting when any of the variable parameters of the document have been changed, wherein the daemon modifies the parameters in the entry of the document references file in response to a detected change.