Patent ID: 7512790

Claim:
A method for managing files in a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of: in response to a command being initiated on a file: accessing one or more extended attribute fields that define attributes of the file, wherein the one or more extended attribute fields are contained in an attribute table that defines a hierarchical relationship between the file and one or more co-requisite files, the attribute table defining said hierarchical relationship as parent or child or same level, and wherein the attribute table specifies a set of one or more permitted commands for each hierarchical relationship defined as parent; responsive to the file being defined by the attribute table as same level with respect to one of the co-requisite files, performing the command on said one of the co-requisite files; responsive to the file being defined by the attribute table as child with respect to one of the co-requisite files, not performing the command on said one of the co-requisite files; and responsive to the file being defined by the attribute table as parent with respect to one of the co-requisite files, performing the command on said one of the co-requisite files only if the command is included in the specified set of one or more permitted commands.