A distributed directory structure and method are provided for writing directory information for compressed data on a direct access storage device (DASD). DASD includes a plurality of compression groups for storing compressed data. A micro directory table is written within each of the compression groups for the corresponding compressed data in the compression group. Compressed data and a directory update are written with a single write operation. A macro directory table is written in one area of the DASD. The macro directory table includes directory information used for translating a logical address to a physical base address for each compression group. The micro directory table includes directory information used for translating a logical address for a requested data page to a physical page address and page length within the compression group.