PURPOSE: To easily record and reproduce picture data by connecting the picture data for retrieval on a front side in a data file to the picture data and forming one unit of the data file by both picture data.

CONSTITUTION: The frame of broken lines indicates the dot size (640 dots wide and 400 dots long) of a display part. Only a slight area can be displayed by one screen in a normal picture 60, however, more than a half of the area can be displayed by one screen in a thinned picture 50 and the whole can be confirmed by moving a display area within two screens. Also, when it is set to display and output the thinned picture 50 in advance, the thinned picture 50 can be displayed immediately after the specifying operation of a reproducing file. Also, more than a half of the area of pictures is displayed by the display of one time in the thinned picture 50 and it is useful for the retrieval. Also, since the thinned picture 50 and the normal picture 60 are in the same data file, the access operation of changeover is unnecessary and the time is not required.