Patent ID: 7801863

Claim:
A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, perform a method for formulated document retention, the method executed by the computer-executable instructions comprising: receiving a retention period type defining a retention date, the retention period type comprising at least one of the following: a property time period based on at least one property of at least one item, a workflow time period set by a workflow of the at least one item, and a custom time period based on a custom code defined by a user, wherein receiving the retention period type defining the retention date comprises: in response to the retention period type comprising the property time period based on the at least one property of the at least one item, providing a user interface comprising a drop-down menu for selecting at least one of the following: date properties and time properties of the at least one item to be associated with the property time period, permitting, within the user interface, a specification of an additional amount of time to be added to the retention period type, wherein the resultant retention period is based on the retention period type specified by the drop-down menu property selection and the specified additional amount of time, and receiving the retention period type defining the retention date that is not based on a fixed date and changes when the at least one item is modified; periodically identifying the at least one item having the retention date prior to a current date; recalculating the retention date based upon a retention formula, the retention formula corresponding to an item type of the at least one item and implementing a user defined retention policy associated with the at least one item, wherein recalculating the retention date based upon the retention formula comprises recalculating the retention date based on the retention formula comprising at least one of the following variables: a date and a time property; determining if the recalculated retention date is prior to the current date; executing a retention action for the at least one item having the recalculated retention date that is prior to the current date, wherein executing the retention action for the at least one item having the recalculated retention date that is prior to the current date comprises executing a plug-in, the plug-in being specified by the user for performing an arbitrary custom action specified for the retention action; receiving a request to open the at least one item; and in response to the request, recalculating the retention date for the at least one item to be opened utilizing the retention formula.