Abstract: Visible data displayed by a computer program on a computer screen can be stretched easily by a variable amount. This system allows a scale or ruler device on the screen to be stretched vertically or horizontally, as appropriate, by use of a pointing device such as a mouse or light pen. As the scale or ruler is stretched, its display is continually updated by the computer program to show its new position as a result of the stretched. This gives the program's user a precise visual indication of how much additional stretching is required to complete the desired amount of stretching. Upon terminating the stretching operation, the computer program's data is recalculated and appropriate data displayed relative to the scale or ruler's final position.