xml - Handling huge ajax response with javascript -

i'm building site uses jquery file tree. ajax response server huge: 900 kb, 70000 'files' (i'm not displaying files).

of course displaying puts lot of strain on javascript (client side) , happens browser freezes because of that.

what possible solutions this? can "tell browser" expect big load (as max_execution_time , memory_limit in php). other idea break down request several smaller. there quite coding needed , i'm wondering: work? can browsers handle manipulating such big number of dom nodes?

any other ideas how deal this?

i think better way approach solution "on-demand", or "lazy-load" solution. display roots of file tree, grab data via ajax when user tries expand of nodes see children.

this way don't load data @ once, piecemeal instead.