Method and system for describing how retention should be applied to composite objects

摘要

Techniques allow for applying a retention policy to a composite object. For each composite object type there is a description of the composite object structure and rules that determine how the retention policy is to be applied. A retention application can review the descriptions and rules and, based on the review, apply the appropriate retention policy to each of the objects that make up the composite object.

主权项

1. A method for applying retention to a complex object having a plurality of objects comprising:
accessing a file comprising a definition of a structure of the complex object, wherein the complex object is a separate file than the file comprising the definition of the structure of the complex object, the definition comprising a listing of a plurality of object types found within the complex object, and information associated with each object type; evaluating a set of rules, each rule specifying a retention policy to be applied to an object of the plurality of objects; applying, in response to the evaluation, a first retention policy to a first object of the plurality of objects, wherein the first object has a first object type, and the application of the first retention policy is based on first information associated with the first object type; and applying, in response to the evaluation, a second retention policy, different from the first retention policy, to a second object of the plurality of objects, wherein the second object has a second object type, and the application of the second retention policy is based on second information associated with the second object type.