Abstract: A method of collaboration includes creating an electronic document file representing a document, file having a plurality of sections denoted by table of contents metadata and using the table of contents metadata; identifying a plurality of document sections, receiving user input reflecting a preference for division of the plurality of document sections into separate section files and dividing the electronic document file into a plurality of separate section files; in response to user input indicating a first access control preference, providing access to a first of the plurality of separate section files to a first user; in response to user input indicating a second access control preference, providing access to a second of the plurality of separate section files to a second user; storing edits made by the first user to the first of the plurality of separate section files, in the first of the plurality of separate section files; storing edits made by the second user to the second of the plurality of separate

Abstract: A method of retrieving hierarchical information, the method including receiving a request on an interface of a server, the request identifying a base node and an expansion node, the base node and the expansion node being hierarchically-arranged data objects in a data memory in communication with the server, parsing the request to determine the base node in the hierarchical information, parsing the request to determine the expansion node in the hierarchical information, retrieving a base record associated with the base node, retrieving an expansion record associated with the expansion node and referenced by the base record, inserting information from the base record and information from the expansion record into a response, and returning the response to a client computer in response to the request.