An external control device for use with a neurostimulation system having a neurostimulation lead carrying a plurality of electrodes capable of conveying an electrical stimulation field into tissue in which the electrodes are implanted. The external control device comprises a user interface including one or more control elements and a display screen, and a processor configured for individually assigning stimulation amplitude values for selected ones of the electrodes in response to actuations of the one or more control elements and for displaying on the display screen representations of the electrodes and a plurality of first non-alphanumeric indicators of the stimulation amplitude values in graphical association with the respective representations of the selected electrodes.