Abstract: A method for creating on-line presentations on a computer display using a complier, a compressor, and a processor. The complier converts control commands in source code format into object code format in order to specify how the information in an on-line presentation is to be presented on the display. The complier also creates a file identifying the image data to be used in the presentation. This file contains the names of the display units describing the image data used to indicate which of the uncompressed image data is to be operated upon by the compressor. The compressor formats and compresses the displayable picture elements of text and graphic shapes which have been used to create the on-line presentation. The processor then loads and executes the object code of the control commands with its corresponding picture elements of image data to create the on-line presentation. The control commands are generated totally separate from the image data.