Abstract: A method of retrieving an annotation associated with a data item in a view generated by an information management system querying a data source, includes receiving an output of a query; analyzing the output of the query to identify one or more data items having a data value and an attribute associated therewith; for each identified data value and attribute, identifying a unique value associated with the data value and the attribute, wherein an identified unique value associated with the data value and an identified unique value associated with the attribute forms a unique set of values; identifying from a data store a previously logged set of unique values corresponding to the set of unique values; in response to a positive determination, determining whether the previously logged unique set of values are an associated annotation; and in response to a positive second determination retrieving the annotation from the data store.