A method for contextually representing errors during data entry, including obtaining an expandable and collapsible tree (ECT) having a first node and a second node corresponding to multiple tasks for data entry; displaying a portion of the ECT including the second node, where the first node stems from the second node; presenting a record, corresponding to a task represented by the first node, including a data field for entry of data; receiving a data entry error for input to the data field of the record, where the data entry error is inconsistent with a predetermined range of acceptable data; and displaying, on the ECT and in association with the second node, an error indicium indicative of the data entry error while allowing further progression through the multiple tasks.