Abstract: A number of program modules (32,34,36) are sequentially controlled by a procedural user interface (PUI) 38 and an operating system (40) to perform tasks. Transfer of files or other data entities between the modules (32,34,36) and a storage (13) is seamlessly integrated by a sequential information integration service (SIIS) (50). For reading a file from the storage (13), a the PUI 38 or the operating system (40) generates a read command including a filename designation which can include a pathname, complete filename or wildcard characters. The read command can also include one or more arguments such as a user or group access code and an error message to display if the required file is not found. In an automatic mode, the service (50) automatically selects the most recent file corresponding to the filename designation and arguments, or displays the error message if a file meeting these criteria is not found.

Abstract: In a Geographic Information System, a computer retrieves records from a data base for each map feature that lies within the extent of the displayed portion of the map. The records for point features are organized in "flat" structures where each map feature is represented by a single symbol, and in multi-level "hierarchial" structures where each feature is represented by a hierarchy of symbols representing different resolutions of the map features. For a hierarchial symbol structure, the level of records retrieved by the computer is determined by the scale of the map displayed to the screen. The computer determines, for each symbol at the particular map scale, whether the symbol extensively overlaps any other symbol The symbols that overlap significantly are modified to reduce the clutter by either merging the overlapping symbols into a single symbol including a numeric identifier or replacing the symbol and its siblings by the single parent symbol in the hierarchy.