1. A method of displaying user interface information with respect to navigation of a hierarchical namespace, the hierarchical namespace including a first set of items representing a top level portion of the hierarchical namespace and a second set of items representing lower levels of the hierarchical namespace, the method comprising: displaying each of the items in the first set of items in a first navigation display area at a display device; displaying a second navigation display area at the display device, the second navigation display area including a column explore display area; detecting a selected use of a particular item in the second navigation display area; creating a direct link to the particular item; and displaying the direct link to the particular item in a link area of the first navigation display area at the display device, the link area associated with the selected one of the first set of items; wherein a first link to a most recently used data item in a first column of the column explorer display area is displayed in a first location in the first navigation display area, the first link associated with a first data item in the first navigation display area, and a second link to a second most recently used data item in a second column of the column explorer display area is displayed at a second location in the first navigation display area, the second link associated with a second data item in the first navigation display area.