A content management system provides content item sharing and synchronization for users of client devices. The content items stored by content management system can include any type of data, such as digital data, media, data files and databases, source and object code, recordings, and any other type of data or file. A collaboration content item management system allows users to create, edit and share collaboration content items among a plurality of other users. Collaboration content items are files that a users can create and edit using a collaboration content items editor, and are composed of collaboration content item elements. The content management system and collaboration content item management system provide functionality for linking content items with collaboration content items to keep the contents of each synchronized with one another and allow for access of the same content from both systems.