Method and apparatus for grouping graphic objects on a computer based system having a graphical user interface

A method for manipulating groups of graphic objects in a computer-controlled graphics editing system, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) a user drawing a first enclosure graphic object around a first set of graphic objects;
• b) said user drawing a second enclosure graphic object around a second set of graphic objects;
• c) said user performing a fusion gesture to fuse said first enclosure and said second enclosure;
• d) said system fusing said first enclosure and said second enclosure to create a fused enclosure having a shape corresponding to said first enclosure connected to said second enclosure and said fusion gesture, and said fused enclosure defining an area containing said first set of graphic objects and said second set of graphic objects.

A computer controlled graphics display system including a display and user controllable means for generating graphic objects, said system further comprising:

• enclosure detection circuitry, said enclosure detection circuitry for identifying a graphic object as an enclosure, said enclosure defining a region;
• group detection circuitry for identifying a group of graphic objects in said region, wherein operations performed on said graphic objected identified as an enclosure will also be performed on said group of graphic objects in said region;
• position detection circuitry for detecting a position of a gesture;
• gesture interpretation circuitry for identifying said gesture as being one of an associated plurality of gesture types and performing an enclosure operation corresponding to said identified gesture type on said enclosure.