Method for Cataloging Elements in a Computer Aided Design
Original Publication Date: 1993-May-01
Included in the Prior Art Database: 2005-Mar-19
Publishing Venue
IBM
Related People
Brown, JR: AUTHOR [+2]
Abstract
Disclosed is a method for cataloging and locating elements in a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system using an external database. A non-graphic record attached to an element contains a unique key value and a corresponding entry in the external database associates this key with the file in which the element appears. An application can then use the external database to display a list of elements stored in the CAD system, and display a selected element.
Method for Cataloging Elements in a Computer Aided Design
Disclosed is
a method for cataloging and locating elements in a
Computer Aided Design (CAD) system using an external database. A
non-graphic record attached to an element contains a unique key value
and a corresponding entry in the external database associates this
key with the file in which the element appears.
An application can
then use the external database to display a list of elements stored
in the CAD system, and display a selected element.
Such a method involves the following main components.
1. A CAD system
that is extensible in that it provides a facility
for application programs to be
written on top of the basic system
that can read and write records in
the CAD database, and cause
drawings to be displayed. Additional capabilities such as
control of the CAD user interface,
and the ability to extend the
command set of the CAD system allow
further useful extensions of
the CAD system and provide a more integrated
feel to the method.
2. A database
system with a programmable interface accessible from
the facility mentioned above.
3. Authoring application program written on top of the CAD system.
4. End-user application program written on top of the CAD system.
The above components are used in the following manner:
o Building the
CAD database.
o Authoring the element catalog
o Using the element catalog.
BUILDING THE CAD DATABASE - A collection of drawings (also called
Models in some systems) is defined either using the basic functions
of the CAD system, or by importing from other systems. The result is
a CAD database containing many separate files each having a number of
graphic entities representing identifiable components (elements).
AUTHORING THE ELEMENT CATALOG - Using the authoring application
program, the catalog of elements is built.
This process is comprised
of the following steps.
1. Each drawing is displayed on the CAD system.
2. For each
drawing, all elements that will be of interest to the
end-user are selected one at a
time. This may be a single
element or a group of elements which
would in turn be part of a
pattern.
3. A unique
element identifier(ID) that will be meaningful to the
end user is specified.
4. A non-graphic
record containing this ID and an application
identifier that will be recognized by
the cataloging application
is attached to the element pattern in
the CAD database.
5. A record
containing the ID and a drawing file identifier (usually
...