Systems and methods to enable users to interact with remotely managed documents with a single interaction using locally stored documents
A system and method that enables editing capabilities of content accessed from a content management server using any type of locally-installed application is provided. In some embodiments, a content management server stores documents in a cache on the user's computer. Documents can thus be accessed and edited using the document in the local file system of the user. For example, users may open, reserve or lock, download, and edit documents with a single user action such as a click. Advantageously, the teachings of embodiments as described can be used in conjunction with content management systems for improving the user experiences involved in editing documents by providing an ‘instant’ and ‘seamless’ editing experience substantially equivalent to editing files on a local hard disk.
1. A content management system for editing files stored on a remote content management server comprising:
a client computing device, including a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
a content management server browser interface configured to enable users to view and manage files stored by a content management server and configure hyperlinks for files stored by the content management server;
a sync agent deployed on the client computing device coupled over a network to the content management server, wherein the client computing device includes a file system, a first local cache associated with the content management system and a first user in the file system of the client computing device and a second local cache associated with the content management system and a second user in the file system of the client computing device, each local cache including a content management cache wherein the sync agent in response to a first user action by the first user referencing a first file, is configured to automatically download the first file stored at the content management server, and store the first file in the first local cache associated with the content management system and the first user, and in response to a second user action by the second user referencing a second file, is configured to automatically download the second file stored at the content management server, and store the second file in the second local cache associated with the content management system and the second user; and
an edit client control module of the content management system deployed on the client computing device and coupled to the sync agent, wherein the edit client control module, in response to the first user action referencing the first file, is configured to automatically launch an editing application which is further configured to automatically open the first file stored in the first local cache.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the editing application is selected based on a file type of the first file.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein, in response to the first user action first file, the system attempts to automatically reserve or lock first file in the content management server.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first file is classified as read-only in the local cache if the first file cannot be reserved or locked in the content management server.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the editing application resides on the client computing device communicatively connected to the content management server.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the editing application saves a distinct version of the first file to the first local cache.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the locally cached version of the first file is automatically uploaded to the content management server after the editing application saves the distinct version of the first file to the first local cache.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the uploading further comprises converting a local inter-document link contained in the distinct version of the first file to a global inter-document link.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a global inter-document link contained in the first file is converted to a local inter-document link.
10. A method for editing files stored on a remote content management server comprising:
providing a content management server browser interface configured to enable users to view and manage files stored by a content management server and configure hyperlinks for files stored by the content management server;
providing a sync agent deployed on a client computing device coupled over a network to the content management server, wherein the client computing device includes a file system, a first local cache associated with the content management system and a first user in the file system of the client computing device and a second local cache associated with the content management system and a second user in the file system of the client computing device, each local cache including a content management cache wherein the sync agent in response to a first user action by the first user referencing a first file, is configured to automatically download the first file stored at the content management server, and store the first file in the first local cache associated with the content management system and the first user, and in response to a second user action by the second user referencing a second file, is configured to automatically download the second file stored at the content management server, and store the second file in the second local cache associated with the content management system and the second user; and
providing an edit client control module of the content management system deployed on the client computing device and coupled to the sync agent, wherein the edit client control module, in response to the first user action relative referencing the first file, is configured to automatically launch an editing application which is further configured to automatically open the first file stored in the first local cache.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising selecting the editing application based on a file type of the first file.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein, in response to the first user action referencing the first file, the system attempts to automatically reserve or lock first file in the content management server.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising classifying the first file as read-only in the local cache if the first file cannot be reserved or locked in the content management server.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the editing application resides on the client computing device communicatively connected to the content management server.
15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the editing application saving a distinct version of the first file to the first local cache.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising automatically uploading the locally cached version of the first file to the content server after the editing application saves the distinct version of the first file to the local cache.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the uploading further comprises converting a local inter-document link contained in the distinct version of the first file to a global inter-document link.
18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising converting a global inter-document link contained in the first file to a local inter-document link.
19. A non-transitory computer readable medium, including instructions for editing files stored on a remote content management server the instructions for providing:
a content management server browser interface configured to enable users to view and manage files stored by a content management server and configure hyperlinks for files stored by the content management server;
a sync agent deployed on a client computing device coupled over a network to the content management server, wherein the client computing device includes a file system, a first local cache associated with the content management system and a first user in the file system of the client computing device and a second local cache associated with the content management system and a second user in the file system of the client computing device, each local cache including a content management cache wherein the sync agent in response to a first user action by the first user referencing a first file, is configured to automatically download the first file stored at the content management server, and store the first file in the first local cache associated with the content management system and the first user, and in response to a second user action by the second user referencing a second file, is configured to automatically download the second file stored at the content management server, and store the second file in the second local cache associated with the content management system and the second user; and
an edit client control module of the content management system deployed on the client computing device and coupled to the sync agent, wherein the edit client control module, in response to the first user action referencing the first file, is configured to automatically launch an editing application which is further configured to automatically open the first file stored in the first local cache.
20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the editing application is selected based on a file type of the first file.