Patent ID: 7506006

Claim:
A computer implemented method for synchronizing, comprising: editing a first data item using a smart client, said smart client includes an e-mail messaging function, said first data item is associated with an application external to and remote from said smart client; and using said smart client to synchronize said first data item with said external application, said step of using said smart client to synchronize includes marking the first data item for synchronization by said smart client and initiating a synchronization process between the smart client and the application for the first data item by the smart client, said smart client includes a base application and add-in software, the add-in software incorporated into the base application, said base application includes said e-mail messaging function, said step of using said smart client to synchronize said first data item is performed by said add-in software incorporated into the base application; said synchronizing includes providing a user with an opportunity to choose a set of accounts and synchronizing account data for said external application, said synchronizing account data includes retrieving information from said external application for said set of accounts, retrieving additional information from additional applications, overwriting at least a subset of said account data with said information from said external application and said additional information, and removing folders for accounts not in said set of accounts.