Abstract: A file management system allows the linking of objects. In each link one object serves as a parent and the other as a child. When a parent object is copied the parent object is copied to produce a copy of the parent object. Additionally, the child objects of the parent object are copied s well, except in the case when the child object is designated as a special public object, each child of the parent object is copied to produce a copy of the child object. Each copy of a child object is then linked to the copy of the parent object. When a child object is designated as a special public object, the child object is linked to the copy of the parent object.

Abstract: A method in a computer system provides for the establishment of a link between two object data structures, the link specifying shared data. A first user command specifies the shared data and specifies a first object data structure as source of the shared data. A second user command specifies a second object data structure with which the data will be shared. The first user command may be accomplished by a user highlighting the shared data and selecting a share command. As a result a link is constructed which includes a reference to the shared data, a first object data structure, which is the source of the shared data and a clipboard object. The second user command may be accomplished by a user selecting on the computer display an area within a first window controlled by the second object and then selecting a paste command. The first object then may display the shared data in the area in the first window.

Abstract: A file management system removes an object from the file management system by first deleting a link to the first object. When a link to the first object is deleted the file management system determines whether there are any links to the first object remaining. If there are no links remaining, the first object is destroyed by removing data files associated with the first object.

Abstract: A file management system allows the linking of objects. In each link one object serves as a parent and the other as a child. When a parent object is copied the parent object is copied to produce a copy of the parent object. Additionally, the child objects of the parent object are copied as well, except in the case when the child object is designated as a special public object, each child of the parent object is copied to produce a copy of the child object. Each copy of a child object is then linked to the copy of the parent object. When a child object is designated as a special public object, the child object is linked to the copy of the parent object.

Abstract: A computer having a file management system is presented. The file management system includes a plurality of application programs, a plurality of data files, a plurality of class data structures and a plurality of object data structures. Each class data structure includes a reference to an application program within the plurality of application programs. Each object data structure includes a reference to a class data structure from the plurality of class data structure and a reference to at least one data file from the plurality of data files.The use of object data structures adds a layer between a user of the computer and data files. This allows for the computer to refer to an object data structure and associated access files using a tag which is inaccessible to the user. The user refers to an object based on the physical location of the object on the screen. The user may also give the object data structure a name, which is wholly unconnected to the value of the tag.