PURPOSE: To output the required number of graphics from the graphic with a highest similarity degree in sequence by calculating distance between respective kinds of graphic data and examplified graphic data and displaying the image of the required number of the graphics from one with short distance in sequence.

CONSTITUTION: The number of the distance unit necessary for the one change of the change of intra-respective graphic elements and the change of intra- respective connection relations concerning graphic data is previously set and a distance operation means 10 compares the respective kinds of graphic data stored in a storage data memory 3 with graphic data stored in a retrieve condition memory 6 so as to calculate how many distance unit has to be changed in order to be mutually coincident graphic data. A retrieving means 7 copes the calculated number of the distance unit with the respective kinds of graphic data in the storage data memory 3 and decides the required number of graphic data inputted by a retrieve condition input means 4 from the minimum number of the unit in sequence. Furthermore, a retrieve result output means 8 reads the graphic image corresponding to the graphic data from the minimum number of the distance unit in sequence and displays it.