Abstract: A project and document management system with automatic metadata encoding is enclosed. In the system, a data repository is provided, and a number of computing devices are connected to the data repository through a communication network to store their data in the data repository. On each computing device, an activity frame automatically associates sets of metadata with data generated by application programs. The application frame may take the form of a virtual workspace or set of workspaces, each workspace associated with its own set of metadata, such that everything a user does, receives, or acts on while in that workspace is associated with the workspace's set of metadata. Virtual workspaces may have hierarchical or other relationships, and related workspaces may inherit or share parts of their sets of metadata. Dashboards and analytics may be used to indicate the status of single workspaces or related workspaces addressing particular tasks.