1. A method of facilitating icon-based operations in a data processing system graphical user interface having a plurality of icons representative of either software objects or data-processing-implemented operations, comprising the data processing implemented steps of: (a) allowing at least one software object to remain open and active in a visual display of said data processing system, said software object displaying a plurality of data items; (b) providing, in said graphical user interface, a operator-selectable visual representation of an integrated operation association between (1) said at least one software object which is open and active in said visual display of said data processing system and (2) at least one of said plurality of icons; (c) monitoring for (1) operator selection of said visual representation of an integrated operation association, and (2) operator utilization of a graphical pointing device to select at least one of said plurality of data items; (d) recording operator selection of said at least one of said plurality of data items; thereafter (e) monitoring for operator utilization of said graphical pointing device to select at least one of said plurality of icons; (f) performing a particular data-processing-implemented operation involving (1) recorded operator selection of said at least one of said plurality of data items, and (2) said software object or data-processing-implemented operation represented by the selected ones of said plurality of icons.