Abstract: A method for creating and using virtual electronic containers for documents and data. The electronic container provides a capability to scan and store paper documents in a virtual container. The container can also store existing electronic documents with associated data. Electronic documents are stored and maintained in their original format, allowing extraction and use by the applications that created them. The electronic container also recognizes graphical symbols of prescribed formats. These symbols provide document information to the electronic container and can specify instructions for processing or workflow operations. New containers can be created based upon predefined prototypes so that a group of containers follows a set format. Rules may also be defined to limit use of and modification of content and structure.