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Abstract

A distributed client server system for managing and storing digital files includes a digital library and a shared file system, wherein the digital library further includes a library client, a library server including a library catalog, and an object server and wherein the shared file system includes a workstation with a local storage and a shared file server with a shared file storage. The digital library maintains metadata about the files in the shared file system, in a database in the library catalog. The metadata for a file includes different names for different versions of the file and a check-in status flag. A read operation is performed on the shared file system by a user retrieving a file directly from the shared file system. A write operation is performed by the user invoking a digital library application, which in turn changes the status of the flag to 'checked-out'. When a file is 'checked-out' it can not be edited by any other user. When the 'checked-out' file is saved, it is saved under a new name. When a user quits after editing the file, the status of the file is changed back to 'checked-in'.

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First Claim