1. A method for generating an application user interface window used by an executing application program on a computer permitting a user to explore at least a portion of a collection of data consisting of at least of multiple records and multiple directional references between records, the interface window comprising: at least one display region visualizing a hierarchical structure by visualizing and arranging a plurality of records so that the visualization of at least one record of the plurality of records occurs at least two times spaced-apart at different visual locations on the display region; wherein the hierarchical structure includes a first set of records, a first record having references of a first direction with respect to the first set of records, a second set of records, a second record of the first set of records having references of the first direction with respect to the second set of records, a third set of records, a third record having references of a direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the third set of records, a fourth set of records, and a fourth record of the third set of records having references of a direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the fourth set of records; and wherein the plurality of records meets at least one of the following criteria: the third record is identical to the first record, the third record is included in the first set of records, the third record is included in the second set of records, and the third record is not identical to the first record and neither included in the first set of records nor included in the second set of records.