Systems and methods for generating a selection representation for items in a tree structure using an include modifier and an exclude modifier. The methods exemplarily include updating a selection representation subsequent to an initial selection of a node in an item tree structure. Methods exemplarily include identifying a branch including the next selected node, selecting a top node in the branch whose selection type has either changed or not changed based on the next selection, and building the selection representation based on whether the selection type of the top node has changed or not changed.