Abstract: An information management system and method for a computer provides a user-interface tool for automatically acquiring and displaying information acquired from multiple sources such as locally resident utility programs and data files or remote computers and servers accessed via the Internet or through a LAN/WAN communications link. The information management system is provided as a software utility program embodied in a computer-readable medium for loading and executing on a computer system having a display device. Upon execution of the information management system utility program by a host computer, a database is created locally to store information source location data and various display criteria. In an initial mode of operation, a settings menu is provided via a display device for selecting the information sources for acquiring data, inputting various properties concerning the selected information sources and selecting desired display characteristics.