Abstract: Data generated and accumulated during a multi-stage proceeding, such as a litigation proceeding, is organized in a matrix of screens according to Section (catagory) and Level for later retrieval. Each screen is accessed by user selection of a point on the matrix and each screen has a pattern of fields at which data can be entered into the system. By imposing a pattern of fields of data entry, codes can be associated with each entry which permit ease of retrieval. Different subsets of the set of fields in the various screens have like codes to encode data entered there and to retrieve there subsets of stored data entered at other fields and having like codes. A data file is established for each case and a matrix is operative in a manner analogous to a template where a field is like an aperture in the template permitting access only to the data at the aperture.