The modified view of the diagram 100 is maintained until a cursor action indicating that the modified view should be concluded is detected (block S506). Upon detection of this cursor action, the displayed view is returned to the original view (the view being displayed before detection of the cursor action triggering the view modification), and all visual effects are unapplied.

The above method of displaying a large diagram may be implemented using a computer system 600, such as that shown in FIG. 6 wherein the process of FIG. 5 may be implemented as software, such as one or more application programs executable by the computer system 600. In particular, the steps of the method of displaying the large diagram may be effected by instructions in the software that are carried out by the computer system 600. The instructions may be formed as one or more code modules, each for performing one or more particular tasks. The instructions, when executed by one or more appropriate components of the computer system 600, for example by one or more of a CPU, memory, and the like, represent a means for carrying out the tasks.

In one embodiment, the software may be stored in a computer readable medium, including the storage devices described below, for example. The software is loaded into the computer system 600 from the computer readable medium, and then executed by the computer system 600. A computer readable medium having such software or computer program recorded on it is a computer program product. The use of the computer program product in the computer system 600 preferably effects an advantageous apparatus for displaying large diagrams.