1. A computer-implemented method for generating data graphical displays, comprising the steps of: receiving data to be displayed in a non-textual format, said received data being indicative of a plurality of variables; retrieving graph style data items from a data file, said graph style data items containing display characteristics to be used in displaying the data in a non-textual format; and accessing of the graph style data items by different types of software applications in order to display through the different types of software applications non-textual formatted output based upon the graph style data items.