1. A method implemented in computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, produces a document for transmission to a client computing device that describes a folder tree, the method comprising: in response to receiving a request from the client computing device to access a root folder, querying a folder database for information associated with the root folder describing a user's access rights with regard to the root folder; authenticating that the user has rights to access the root folder and creating the document that describes the folder tree; adding metadata associated with the root folder to the document that describes the folder tree; for each subfolder within the hierarchy of the root folder that has the same permissions with respect to the user as the root folder: obtaining metadata of the subfolder from the folder database; adding metadata associated with the subfolder to the document that describes the folder tree; and for at least one subfolder within the hierarchy of the root folder that has different permissions with respect to the user as the root folder, inserting an XLink corresponding to the subfolder into the document, the XLink allowing the user to access the subfolder once the user's right to access the subfolder is authenticated.