A desktop publishing system contains an output display device that displays a palette window. The palette window contains a defined objects panel containing a list of defined objects, and an objects panel containing a list of objects. The output display device also displays a view window for displaying a page containing at least one object from one of the list of defined objects and the list of objects. The desktop publishing system also contains an input device that selects the object(s) from one of the list of defined objects and the list of objects for display in the page.