Method of tracking data objects using related thumbnails in a palette window

A method of tracking data objects on a data processing device having an output device, the method comprising the steps of:

• storing in a workspace memory a first data object having a plurality of first graphical attributes associated therewith defining the appearance of the first data object;
• storing in a palette memory the first data object when the first graphical attributes are evaluated to not match corresponding graphical attributes of any preexisting data object stored in the palette memory;
• generating on a document displayed in a workspace window the first data object in accordance with the first graphical attributes, the first graphical attributes being editable within the document on the workspace window;
• and
• generating on a palette window a first thumbnail, the first thumbnail being a depiction of the first data object stored in the palette memory and scaled to a predetermined size, wherein edits made to the first graphical attributes of the first data object in the document are correspondingly reflected in the first thumbnail.