A system and method for automatically generating a dynamic layout of a top-level canvas with an internal box layout structure providing a storage element, and a processing element capable of receiving requests to assign a plurality of components within the canvas; assessing both component data and associated connectivity data component related to components having associated parent and child data, and for components without a parent component; connectivity data associated with the component data; and automatically laying out the canvas. Boxes are created inside the top-level canvas diagram, which are sub-canvases to the top-level canvas. Each of these sub-canvases provides components, connectivity elements, and sub-canvases. The methodology is recursive so the diagram can have many levels of boxes inside of boxes. The canvases are positioned with the lowest level of sub-canvas and progressing outward to the next level of sub-canvas until the top-level canvas is displayed.