1. A computer-readable media encoded with instructions for controlling a data storage system to perform data management operations, by a method comprising: receiving a request to perform a data management operation specifying a time-based criteria; searching a metabase containing metadata that describes data objects managed by the data storage system to identify metadata satisfying the time-based criteria, wherein the metadata contains at least categories associated with the data objects that relate to the manner in which storage operations are performed on the data objects; determining data objects managed by the data storage system that are associated with the identified metadata; receiving a tag or keyword from a user; determining a subset of the determining data objects that are associated with the identified metadata; and accessing at least one data object in the subset of the determined data objects that are associated with the identified metadata to perform the requested data management operation.