1. A computer implemented method implemented with a processor, the method comprising: receiving instructions to create or edit an object on an electronic design layout; tracking a user input to configure the object; calculating effects of one or more design rules relative to the user input with an interactive layout editing mechanism that includes a processor and calculates the effects to configure the object; displaying a visual indicator of a valid object configuration while affixing a location of an on-screen indicator for the user input when the on-screen indicator is being moved according to the user input, wherein the visual indicator includes a ghosted image of at least a portion of the object when at least a part of the object falls within an aperture range; and controllably permitting either an invalid object configuration or automatic implementation of the valid object configuration.