Abstract: An authoring application for allowing users to create, control and distribute electronic content including a canvas interface for constructing a project of the electronic content from a plurality of resource files, the canvas interface having: a canvas area for constructing screen elements of the selected resource files to create screens; a path area for illustrating a relationship among the screens of the project; and a properties area for adjusting characteristics of the selected screen elements, a reader interface for allowing the users to view the project, the reader interface being accessible from the canvas interface and a resource interface for managing groups, membership in groups, and user accounts, said groups and user accounts having varying levels of control over the project.