Abstract: A method and system are provided for computer based training relating to a target system. A user interface includes at least one graphic display portion, and a courseware viewer portion. Several exercise modules are provided, each having (1) at least one display file, (2) at least one script corresponding to the display file(s), and (3) a work file, to be loaded into the target system. The steps in the exercise module are displayed by parsing a script in the exercise modules. The steps are sequentially displayed in the courseware viewer portion, and the corresponding display files are displayed in the display window(s). The work file is simultaneously loaded into the target system, and the target system is run by the user while displaying the exercise. The target system generates events corresponding to user responses to the exercise, and the training system displays appropriate confirmation and feedback messages based on the responses.

Abstract: An input manager operating on a computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a processor, a display, an application running on the processor and being displayed on the display and a multi-key input device for inputting information to the application. The input manager manages the inputting of at least a portion of the information to the application, and runs on the processor in conjunction with the application and is displayed on the display in conjunction with the application as an input manager display. The input manager display has a command grid having a plurality of grid boxes, where each grid box represents an input choice at any one point in time and potentially several input choices over a period of time. Each grid box is mapped to a pre-determined key on the input device regardless of which input choice such grid box currently represents. Accordingly, activation of the pre-determined key selects the input choice currently represented by the grid box.

Abstract: A computer system for modeling is disclosed, where the computer system has a storage device, first and second platforms, a portable persistent model, and first and second platform-dependent computerized modeling systems (CMS). Each platform is interfaced to the storage device and provides system-dependent services. The first platform has a first type of operating system and a first type of computer hardware including a first memory, and the second platform has a second type of operating system and a second type of computer hardware including a second memory. The model resides in the storage device in a platform-independent format and includes persistent component objects. The first CMS resides in the first platform memory and the second platform-dependent CMS resides in the second platform memory.

Abstract: A computer system for modeling is disclosed, where the computer system has a storage device, first and second platforms, a portable persistent model, and first and second platform-dependent computerized modeling systems (CMS). Each platform is interfaced to the storage device and provides system-dependent services. The first platform has a first type of operating system and a first type of computer hardware including a first memory, and the second platform has a second type of operating system and a second type of computer hardware including a second memory. The model resides in the storage device in a platform-independent format and includes persistent component objects. The first CMS resides in the first platform memory and the second platform-dependent CMS resides in the second platform memory.

Abstract: A computer system for modeling is disclosed, where the computer system has a storage device, first and second platforms, a portable persistent model, and first and second platform-dependent computerized modeling systems (CMS). Each platform is interfaced to the storage device and provides system-dependent services. The first platform has a first type of operating system and a first type of computer hardware including a first memory, and the second platform has a second type of operating system and a second type of computer hardware including a second memory. The model resides in the storage device in a platform-independent format and includes persistent component objects. The first CMS resides in the first platform memory and the second platform-dependent CMS resides in the second platform memory.

Abstract: A method for drawing an element of an object during computer-aided drafting of the object is disclosed. A computer has a view screen displaying a cursor and at least a portion of a drawing field, and also has a cursor manipulator. The cursor is positioned using the cursor manipulator at a first location on the drawing field, a first data point is recorded at the first location, and the first data point is displayed on the view screen. A drawing plane is associated with the first data point and has first and second substantially perpendicular axes, and an origin at the intersection thereof coinciding with the first data point. The cursor is then positioned using the cursor manipulator at a second location on the drawing field relative to the origin of the drawing plane, a second data point is recorded at the second location, and the second data point is displayed on the view screen.