System and method for using shading layers and highlighting to navigate a tree view display

An information handling system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory accessible by the processors;
• a display screen accessible by the processors;
• and a layered data display tool to display layered data on the display screen, the layered data display tool including:
• means for identifying a plurality of shading colors, each of the shading colors corresponding to a different data layer;
• means for identifying a plurality of data items to be displayed on the display screen;
• for each data item:
• means for determining one of the data layers corresponding to the data item;
• means for selecting a shading color from the plurality of shading colors, wherein the shading color corresponds to the determined data layer;
• means for formatting the data item using the selected shading color;
• and
• means for displaying the formatted data item on the display screen, wherein each formatted data item is positioned with a left margin substantially similar to a left margin corresponding to the other data items.

A computer program product for displaying layered data, said computer program product comprising:

• means for identifying a plurality of shading colors, each of the shading colors corresponding to a different data layer;
• means for identifying a plurality of data items to be displayed in a display window;
• for each data item:
• means for determining one of the data layers corresponding to the data item;
• means for selecting a shading color from the plurality of shading colors, wherein the shading color corresponds to the determined data layer;
• means for formatting the data item using the selected shading color;
• and
• means for displaying the formatted data item in the display window, wherein each formatted data item is positioned with a left margin substantially similar to a left margin corresponding to the other data items.