The present technology provides an interface and system for generating a previous version of a directory structure that can be useful in the restoration of a directory or file. The system, methods and non-transitory computer-readable storage media include receiving a request for a previous version of a directory structure at an indicated date, querying a content management system for placeholder content items associated with the previous version of the directory structure at the indicated date, receiving the placeholder content items, and generating a read-only copy of at least a portion of the previous version of the directory structure at the indicated date based on the placeholder content items, wherein the read-only copy of the directory structure is separate from the directory structure at a current date.