Patent ID: 8189852

Claim:
A method for creating links between a plurality of objects or objects and events described in a plurality of digital files comprising a digital archive, each of the plurality of digital files being a text, graphical or sound file or a combinations of text, graphical and sound files, the method comprising the steps of: accessing at least a first digital file, the first digital file containing XML-formatted content data describing at least one object or event represented in said first digital file, and entering in said first digital file XML-formatted metadata comprising link information to link at least one other, associated object or event to the at least one object or event described by the content data in the first digital file, the content data and metadata being packed together in the first digital file so as to form one single file that contains both the content data and metadata and that is not part of a database, wherein single files containing content data and corresponding metadata links created by the method are storable in one computer, anywhere where the single files can be accessed through a local network or anywhere in the world where the single files can be accessed through the Internet or a similar general purpose network.