Abstract: A computer aided design (CAD) or computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system may be used to generate a drawing containing many elements with certain parameters. Commands or functions and their parameters that are used to generate the elements are stored for later retrieval. The user may directly select an element from the drawing displayed in another activated window or some part of the screen or on a digitizer. After a user selects the element, a similar element is automatically displayed. A menu may be displayed after selecting an element in order for the user to modify various parameters for the similar element.