A computer-implemented method (500, 600, 700) and a system (210) for managing data according to a hierarchical data structure. The method allows storing data associated with a path and a file, the method comprising accessing the data; for at least one of path elements associated with the data, storing, in a hierarchy table (404) (i) a hierarchy identifier; (ii) an independent hierarchy table identifier; and (iii) a parent hierarchy table identifier. For at least one of the path elements and the file associated with the data, the method stores, in a file table (402), (i) an independent file table identifier; and (ii) a parent file table identifier associated with an independent file table identifier of a parent path element from which the at least one of the path elements and the file depends.