Abstract: The present invention provides the capability to use customized procedures to manipulate and control objects in graphic implementations. It provides externalizes much of the underlying object manipulation functionality. A customized procedure is executed at various "trigger" points including: the expiration of a specified period of time; the opening or closing of a window; or, when input from a mouse input device is received. There are several different types of mouse events: mouse button down; mouse move with button down; mouse move with no button down; and mouse button up. A graphic object associated with a customized procedure that is triggered by a mouse event is called a "button object." The customized procedure associated with a button object has four parameters: buttonobj, hitobj, win, and eventinfo. The buttonobj parameter refers to the graphic object having a button procedure that is currently being executed.