Patent ID: 7587680

Claim:
An information displaying apparatus including a file memory which stores files hierarchically, an information reading unit which reads file information associated with the files from the file memory, and a display which displays the information of the files read by the information reading unit, comprising: a mark displaying unit which displays on the display a file mark to identify each of the files stored in the file memory and a folder mark to identify a folder by which the files are grouped; a viewer generating unit which generates on the display a plurality of viewers each having a display area, wherein each of the viewers is freely movable; a viewer moving unit which selects one of the viewers displayed on the display and moves the selected viewer freely on the display in accordance with a drag operation; and a preview displaying unit which (A) displays in the display area of the selected viewer a file mark of a file included in the folder when the selected viewer is moved and the display area of the selected viewer overlaps the folder mark displayed on the display, (B) displays in the display area of the selected viewer the file information associated with the file when the selected viewer is moved and the display area of the selected viewer overlaps the file mark, (C) displays in a display area of the selected viewer, a file mark of a file included in a second folder mark which has already been displayed in the display area of a second viewer when the selected viewer is moved and the display area of the selected viewer overlaps the second folder mark, and (D) displays in the display area of the selected viewer information associated with a file corresponding to a second file mark displayed in the second viewer when the selected viewer is moved and the display area of the selected viewer overlaps the second file mark displayed in the display area of the second viewer.