Appearance objects for configuring and graphically displaying programmed/configured process control

A workstation computer having a memory storing computer-executable instructions for providing a control program development editor facility including a graphical user interface (GUI), the computer executable instructions, when executed by the workstation computer display, causing the GUI to display to a user:

• a template toolbox area comprising a set of graphical images corresponding to selectable control object templates, wherein individual ones of the selectable control object templates are each associated with multiple, user-selectable, alternatively displayed control object graphical depictions;
• and
• a strategy canvas for defining a control strategy, wherein the defined control strategy comprises multiple connected control objects and further comprises at least one child strategy object, and wherein the user defines the control strategy by selecting a control object template from the template toolbox area and placing the selected control object template on the strategy canvas, and wherein upon placing a selected control object template within the control strategy represented on the strategy canvas a currently preferred one of the multiple alternatively displayed control object graphical depictions is initially displayed on the strategy canvas.