A method for controlling a materials handling and/or construction machine, such as a crane or cable excavator, wherein different control functions are selected on a screen of a controller with a touchscreen function by touching a control function symbol, and respective functional parameters of the selected control function are set. A working region boundary of a working region delimiting function for automatically deactivating and/or slowing down at least one actuator is displayed on the screen together with a display of the materials handling and/or construction machine and/or the work surroundings in the form of a touchscreen display element when the working region boundary is reached and is adjusted by touching and moving the working region boundary on the screen relative to the display of the materials handling and/or construction machine and/or the work surroundings thereof.