OVERLAY PRESENTATION OF TEXTUAL AND GRAPHICAL ANNOTATIONS

A primary body of data is displayable on a screen and a supporting body of data is relatable to an annotation tag present in the primary body of textual data. An annotation tag having a predetermined size in the primary body of data is selected, and negotiations ensue between the primary body of data and the supporting body to determine a space into which the supporting body of data can be fitted while maintaining a substantially unobstructed view of the primary body of data. Generally, this negotiated space is sized larger than the original predetermined size of the annotation tag. An animation sequence is used to position the supporting body of data in the negotiated space.