Data processor controlled display interface with tree hierarchy of elements view expandable into multiple detailed views

A data processing controlled display system for the interactive display and control of a hierarchical tree of elements or objects which are selectable to display detailed views of the attributes of the child objects of the selected parent object. The invention is directed to parent objects of which the child objects are different object types. Upon the selection of such a parent object, its child objects are displayed in a plurality of separate screen regions, each respectively displaying the attributes of one of said different types of child objects. The different types of child objects may come from different levels in the hierarchy. The invention is also applicable to the hierarchical trees used in object oriented programming and particularly to situations in object oriented programming where the selected parent object is of a container class.