1. A memory embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus of a computer system to perform operations for controlling a graphical user interface system, where the graphical user interface system is capable of displaying multiple parent portlets in a single graphical user interface, the operations comprising: displaying a page comprised of more than one parent portlets; receiving a command to surface, at least one child sub-portlet from each of the more than one parent portlets displayed on the page; surfacing the at least one child sub-portlet from each of the more than one parent portlets displayed on the page; launching a management portlet on the displayed page for each of the more than one parent portlets having a surfaced at least one child sub-portlet, where the management portlet comprises controls for managing portlet operations relating to a parent portlet and the surfaced least one child sub-portlet of the portlet, where the management portlet operations comprise minimizing portlets, maximizing portlets, closing portlets, and surfacing portlets, singularly or on a group basis; and displaying at least one graphical indicator comprising a collapser control and a connecting link tying a particular parent portlet of the more than one parent portlet, displayed on the page, to the at least one child sub-portlet surfaced from the particular parent portlet, where physical proximity and indentation are used in addition to the at least one graphical indicator to show a relation between the parent portlet, the management portlet, and the at least one child sub-portlet surfaced from the particular parent portlet.