1. A method of performing an object editing operation in a data processing system having a display for displaying an object and also having a user input arrangement including a pointer control device for providing inputs to control the location of a pointer on the display, the data processing system also having a processing device programmed to receive and respond to inputs entered through the user input arrangement and provide an output for controlling the display, the method including the steps of: (a) receiving an edit function input entered through the user input arrangement, the edit function input defining an edit operation to be performed by the data processing system; (b) identifying a target in response to the edit function input, the target comprising an object appearing on the display as specified by proximity to the pointer at the time the edit function input is received; (c) determining a state of the target; and (d) applying the edit operation to the target if the state of the target indicates that the edit operation is not currently applied to the target.