A high degree of control over the structure and dynamics of domain pat
terns in nonequilibrium systems can be achieved by applying nonuniform
external fields near parity breaking front bifurcations. An external
field with a linear spatial profile stabilizes a propagating front at
a fixed position or induces oscillations with a frequency that scales
like the square root of the field gradient. Nonmonotonic profiles prod
uce a variety of patterns with controllable wavelengths, domain sizes,
and frequencies and phases of oscillations.