Patent ID: 7979398

Claim:
A method, comprising: providing a file plan including a plurality of containers, wherein at least one of the containers comprises a plurality of record information objects (RIOs) and lifetime document management rules for the record information objects (RIOs), wherein each of the record information objects (RIOs) represents a document, wherein the at least one of the containers points to a physical record, wherein the physical record is associated with an existing, first record information object (RIO) that provides metadata that describes the physical record, a location of the physical record, and hold information to override an attempt to dispose of the document represented by the first record information object (RIO), and wherein a first disposition schedule is associated with the first record information object (RIO); storing an electronic record associated with the physical record that is associated with the first record information object (RIO); generating a new, second record information object (RIO) that is associated with the electronic record that provides metadata that describes the electronic record and a location of the electronic record, and wherein a second disposition schedule is associated with the second record information object (RIO); automatically associating the second record information object (RIO) with the first record information object (RIO) associated with the physical record; and separately disposing of the physical record and the electronic record at different times based on the first disposition schedule associated with the first record information object (RIO) and the second disposition schedule associated with the second record information object (RIO).