A method for navigating within a multi-level hierarchical collapsing menu structure is disclosed. Each level in the menu structure contains plural items, each item being at least one of a function, a pointer to a location, and a pointer to another level. The method of the present invention includes a step of providing a graphical user menu system displaying the items of a given level and enabling selection thereof, wherein access of the given level requires sequential access of each of the levels preceding the given level in the hierarchy. An Active Path is dynamically constructed as a sequence of active links as items are selected using the graphical user menu system, with one active link corresponding to each of the items selected. The active links provide direct access to a function corresponding level or menu item without the need to navigate using the graphical user menu system.