Abstract: A system and method for rapid panning of graphics images stored as objects in an object records database. The system comprises a computer with memory or memories divided into a several memory regions. The computer is coupled to a monitor for displaying graphics files stored in the database. The memory regions include: a virtual map (VMAP) region including cell maps comprising pointers to linked lists of objects in the database; a backing store region storing a bitmapped image of an entire file, and having the same effective dimensions as the VMAP; a main store region storing a smaller portion of the bitmapped image, the main store region having the same pixel dimensions as a viewing region on the monitor and a movable main store viewing window which permits a view of the subset of the bitmap.