The processing system 10 is disclosed which uses a user interface 12 to interact with the search and control engine 16 and the display engine 18. The search and control engine 16 operates on a data set 14 to identify specific elements within a directory structure. Display engine 18 compiles the identified elements in a tree table 20 to format a display 22 associated with the directory structure. Pruning indicator 34 and a sibling pruning indicator 36 are used in the display 22 to inform the user that intermediate directory structures and sibling elements have been omitted from the display in order to show the identified elements in a truncated context within the complex directory structure.