Abstract: The use of blocks in a workspace window that depict various video elements on the user interface of a video editor for use on a digital computer having a CPU, memory and a video display. The blocks have the attributes that they attract or repel other blocks as a function of proximity to each other in order to reduce user errors and to improve user efficiency. The method of manipulating the blocks on the video display consists of the following steps: First, specify coordinates of interaction regions around a block to be dragged. Next, test the coordinates of the interaction regions against the coordinates of all other blocks on the video display. Next, repel the block to be dragged from specified surfaces of the other blocks in accordance with predetermined rules that specify which surfaces of the block to be dragged and which surfaces of the other blocks repel each other.

Abstract: In a digital computer system running a windows operating system and a video editor where the video data is stored in the memory and clips of the video data consisting of sequences of video frames are represented by blocks in a workspace on the video display. A video cursor is provided to scroll through the frames. The disclosure describes a convenient method of allowing the user to control the scale of the horizontal axis and thus the number of video frames that may be symbolically viewed on the workspace window without panning. The method includes the following steps: First, determining if the video cursor is being intentionally moved vertically by a user. Next, determine the vertical distance that the video cursor is moved from a reference point. Finally, adjust the number of video frames that may be represented on the workspace in relationship to the vertical movement of the video cursor.