1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising: receiving metadata for a file system object that is represented by a placeholder, the placeholder being stored on a local file system of a client, the placeholder including data that identifies a remote storage system from which content of the file system object is obtainable, the client structured to synchronize the local file system with the remote storage system, the metadata sufficient to allow the client, while offline with respect to the remote storage system, to obtain namespace information about the file system object from the placeholder, wherein the local file system is controlled and managed by a local file system manager on the computer, wherein the local file system comprises a local namespace controlled and managed by the local file system, wherein the local file system stores local file system objects and stores placeholders that represent respective remote file system objects, wherein the placeholders and the file system objects have respective entries in the local namespace; storing the metadata in the placeholder; obtaining search data from the metadata; and representing the search data in a search database that resides on the local file system, the search database also representing search data from local file system objects that are stored on the local file system.
1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method comprising: receiving metadata for a file system object that is represented by a placeholder, the placeholder being stored on a local file system of a client, the placeholder including data that identifies a remote storage system from which content of the file system object is obtainable, the client structured to synchronize the local file system with the remote storage system, the metadata sufficient to allow the client, while offline with respect to the remote storage system, to obtain namespace information about the file system object from the placeholder, wherein the local file system is controlled and managed by a local file system manager on the computer, wherein the local file system comprises a local namespace controlled and managed by the local file system, wherein the local file system stores local file system objects and stores placeholders that represent respective remote file system objects, wherein the placeholders and the file system objects have respective entries in the local namespace; storing the metadata in the placeholder; obtaining search data from the metadata; and representing the search data in a search database that resides on the local file system, the search database also representing search data from local file system objects that are stored on the local file system. 11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the search request additionally asks for an indication of file system objects that include searchable text that satisfies additional conditions, the placeholders including searchable text that comes from content of the second set of file system objects.