Abstract: The invention provides a method for configuring a virtual representation of an assembly of a plurality of components, by: I) storing a first set of data representing a plurality of categories of components, and, for each category, parameters and constraints defining limitations for configurations of each of the components, II) generating and storing a second set of data representing the assembly of a plurality of components, while respecting the constraints associated with each component and constraints for the assembly, and generating a third set of data representing a present configuration, III) repeating the step II) by: a) adding, to the second and third set of data, data which represent a component and which are derived from the first set of data, or b) deleting data representing a component of the second and third set of data, or c) amending data representing a previously added component of the second and third set of data, while respecting the constraints associated with each component and constraints