Abstract: Systems and methods for associating digital files into a data project are described. The systems and methods may create a template for a data project. A user may provide inputs for the template. The inputs may define a user-structured data hierarchy, where the user-structured data hierarchy includes a plurality of levels and sub-levels of information. The user may then provide links to one or more digital files associated with each level of the user-structured data hierarchy. The one or more digital files are then associated with corresponding levels of the user-structured data hierarchy. The user-structured data hierarchy and the one or more digital files may be compiled into a data project before being accessed by a user.