1. A method comprising: creating a first entry in a table within a memory; storing an identity of a first file and an identity of an application-related entity in the first entry of the table; storing first information that identifies a relationship between the application-related entity and the contents of the first file in the first entry of the table, wherein the relationship comprises a needed-by relationship, a used-by relationship, a refers-to relationship, or a group-by relationship; receiving a first instruction involving either the first file or the application-related entity, wherein the first instruction, when implemented, performs a first operation adversely affecting the relationship; in response to receiving the first instruction, identifying the relationship by accessing the table; in response to identifying the relationship, selecting a second instruction, wherein the second instruction is selected by determining the ability of the implementation of the second instruction to preserve the identified relationship, the second instruction, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or the application-related entity, and the second instruction, when implemented, preserves the relationship between the first file and the application-related entity; determining the order in which to implement the first and second instructions; and implementing the first and second instructions in the determined order.