A system and methodology is provided for improving directory operations
within a system providing an electronic hierarchical directory of items.
The system includes a component which analyzes probabilities and
utilities associated with determining potential target directories for
storing and accessing data, and a component for building a subset of the
potential target directories that are predicted to be the target
directory. The probabilities and/or utilities are functions of expected
navigation costs associated with traversing from a displayed directory to
at least one of the potential target directories. Methods in accordance
with the present invention can be coupled with displays of substructures
that format the substructures into a coherent hierarchical view.