A system and method for emulating the functional behavior of a two-button mouse-type computer input device is described. A predetermined input generated by digitizing pen and a digitizing writing surface is received, and a user interface having a plurality of soft buttons is displayed. The plurality of soft buttons provides selectable functionality of a two-button mouse-type computer input device. Preferably, the plurality of soft buttons includes a right-button function, a shift function, a control function, an alternate function and a bull's-eye function.