Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling shadow geometry on a computer display in an interactive computer display system. The method and apparatus comprises: maintaining primary element information defining a primary element; generating shadow geometry information defining a shadow geometry, the shadow geometry information having a predetermined mathematical relationship with the primary element, the shadow geometry information being generated in response to user manipulation of the primary element; integrating the shadow geometry with the primary element to form a single graphical unit (called a "par"); and selectively displaying the secondary element concurrently with the primary element.

Abstract: A computer-aided design and drawing system having a dynamically oriented compass cursor is disclosed. In the interactive computer-controlled drawing system, a method and apparatus is disclosed for automatically generating and manipulating a dynamic compass cursor. The method comprises the steps of: 1) generating a compass cursor in a first orientation, the compass cursor being responsive to movement of a cursor control device; 2) selecting a geometrical element having a second orientation; and 3) selectively re-orienting the compass to the second orientation and maintaining the second orientation until a new orientation for the dynamic compass cursor is selected.