The present invention provides display that permits a user to grasp time more intuitively. Data associated with respective dates is retrieved and displayed, each set of data being displayed in a display screen that is displayed smaller than that for preceding data in the series (in any temporal direction). Each set of data is displayed inside the preceding set with a smaller display area. Also, a display area may be divided into an area where icons representing data items belonging to one level are displayed, and an area where child levels are displayed. As hierarchical depth increases, the data icons are made smaller and simpler. The hierarchical structure of a file system or database can be displayed as a Venn diagram. Data items belonging to child levels are displayed as reduced images instead of being hidden. A cutout form and image are registered mutually and independently. An identifier, position, and size of the cutout form are specified as attributes of the image, permitting an image to be fetched into album software by performing a simple operation.