Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided for formula-based document retention. According to the method, a retention formula and a retention action are defined for one or more items. The retention formula is utilized to calculate a retention date for each item. The retention action specifies the action that should be taken on or after the retention date. The retention date for one or more items is initially calculated using the retention formula for the items. A retention service may be periodically executed to identify any items having a retention date earlier than the current date. If any items are identified that have a retention date earlier than the current date, the retention service recalculates the retention date for these items utilizing the corresponding retention formula. If the recalculated retention date for any item is still prior to the current date, the retention action for the item is executed.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to automatically associate type-specific information with a document of a prescribed type. The type information includes instance-specific type information that can be instantiated to each document of the prescribed type. The type information also includes generic type information that is automatically applied to all documents of the prescribed type. Such generic type information includes policies that govern, for example, the life span of the documents or who can access the documents. Instance-specific type information can be demoted to and promoted from a document of the prescribed type. Generic type information can only be demoted to a document of the prescribed type. Type information may be demoted into a document only when the document is requested.