A method includes a hierarchical dataset that includes a root-data object and data collections nested under the root-data object. Each data collection includes one or more data objects, each data object associated with one or more other data collections. The method also includes displaying a hierarchical user interface on a screen. The hierarchical user interface includes column. The columns include data-object columns and data-collection columns, wherein the columns alternate between data-object columns and data-collection columns. Each data-object column displays a list of the one or more data objects of a respective data collection. Each data-collection column displays a list of the one or more data collections of a respective data object, the data-collection columns includes a root-data-collection column displaying a list of the one or more data collections associated with the root-data object.