Patent ID: 8195646

Claim:
A method for storing electronic data, comprising: creating an electronic file including electronic data for storage on a computer-readable medium; receiving input data indicating a first property value of a plurality of property values to be included as part of the electronic file, wherein the first property value is associated with a first flat path string and a second flat path string, each flat path string identifying a distinct hierarchical path through a first hierarchy to the first property value within the structure of the plurality of property values within the first electronic file, and wherein the first flat path string and the second flat path string each comprise a listing of property values indicating metadata of the electronic file; storing the electronic file consistent with an association of the first flat path string and the second flat path string within a second hierarchy that is separate from the first hierarchy; receiving a user query that, when performed, would return a reference to the first flat path string and the second flat path string, each flat path string associated with the first property value within the electronic file and identified within the second hierarchy; retrieving, from the second hierarchy, a single reference to a flat path string associated with the electronic file and not providing repeated representations of flat path strings associated with the electronic file; and returning the single reference to the first flat path string associated with the first property value, wherein the single reference is from the second hierarchy in response to receiving the user query.