Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide for drawing a graphical element in a computer-implemented drawing program. An existing instance of a graphical element pattern that defines a graphical distribution of multiple occurrences of a source graphical element is identified in a computer-implemented drawing program. A second graphical element is then associated with the existing instance of the graphical element pattern. In response to the associating, multiple occurrences of the second graphical element are positioned in accordance with the graphical element pattern.

Abstract: An object may be colored to indicate draft angles of a pull direction at various locations of the object. The coloration advantageously employs a color map specifying a color spectrum for a range of trigonometric values of the draft angles.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention enable a method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and data structure for an adaptable multi-representation building systems data structure in an application program. The data structure comprises a single object that can represent a real world component used throughout a building life cycle, from preliminary design throughout a life of the building. As design decisions are made, the single object can acquire further definition, gaining one or more characteristics that characterize and specify the real-world component. The single object and a connector of the object can recognize and automatically connect to a valid subsystem. Further, the single object can represent itself in multiple graphical and non-graphical displays.

Abstract: To address the requirements described above, one or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a project hosting service that a user can access with a web browser. With it, a user can communicate and collaborate with the members of a design team or construction project. Embodiments of the invention let a user share CAD drawing files (DWG DWF, etc.), document files, or any other type of file. A user can add comments or reply to discussion threads about the file or other aspects of the project. A user can view or download files from anywhere in the world to work on them, while locking the file to prevent others from overwriting the file. When the user is done, the file can be uploaded and unlocked while simultaneously notifying other Project members of the change by e-mail.

Abstract: A computer-aid mechanical design software is provided with a mechanical design assembly translator that first translates first representations of parts of sub-assemblies of a mechanical design assembly to second translated representations of the parts of the sub-assemblies of the mechanical design assembly. The assembly translator thereafter translates one or more assembly constraints of the assembly by correspondingly constraining geometric entities within the translated representations that are counterpart to geometric entities within the pre-translation representations constrained by the one or more assembly constraints. The assembly translator is equipped to identify the corresponding geometric entities within the post-translation representations to be constrained.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for automating the finding and serving of CAD design data is disclosed. One or more embodiments of the invention increase the level of access and automation possible with design data. One or more embodiments of the invention provide a server comprised of various components including an information extraction component, a search component, and a conversion component. The various components provide users with enhanced access to drawing and design data. One or more embodiments of the invention also provide programmable, scriptable components that can query, filter, manipulate, merge, and translate design drawing data using the Web browser interface. Further, Web site administrators can use the present invention to dynamically index and publish design drawing data.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a method, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture for indicating available modifications to a geometric object in a computer drawing program. A three-dimensional geometric object is displayed in a computer drawing program. Additionally, an oriented three-dimensional glyph is displayed. The oriented three-dimensional glyph provides a direct visual indication of valid movement direction during direct manipulation of the three-dimensional geometric object.

Abstract: A computer-implemented solid modeling system provides a graph-based method that sculpts solids with sheet bodies by performing a selective Boolean operation on a part body and one or more sheet bodies, wherein faces of the sheet bodies separate the part body into regions of space such that the regions are separated from each other by the faces of the sheet bodies. Cells thus formed are selected for inclusion or exclusion in the resulting solid as is specified by an option (“join” or “cut”).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture defines one or more entries in a color cube. A first color cube is obtained that has color cube entries that each define a color region. In a first technique, a second smaller color cube is obtained and a list of two or more color indices are mapped to one or more of the second color cube entries. Each entry of the first color cube is compared to the list of colors from a corresponding second color cube entry. The first color cube entry is then mapped to the index representing the most similar color. In a second technique, each color index is mapped to first color cube entries based on a distance of the color region of the first color cube entry to the location, in the first color cube, of the color represented by the index.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing operations using drag and drop features is provided. For example, a source object, which includes instructions that perform the operations, is applied to a target object, such as a graphical object or a window, by a user performing a drag and drop gesture. This can be accomplished by the user clicking on an icon or an item in a menu, which results in a representation of the source object being displayed on the user's computer. The representation moves across the display as the user performs the drag. When the user drops the representation on the intended target object, the instructions are executed and the operations are performed.

Abstract: To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented object-oriented computer system with intelligent object versioning. In accordance with the present invention, an object may be evolved across versions of product releases while maintaining the ability to save a file to one of the previous versions. Thus, objects are interoperable across multiple versions. Further object may be saved to a file version prior to when the object was introduced. When an object is requested to stream out data, the object determines which version to stream out itself and all of its parent/superior classes. If the file version is equal to or higher than the object's introduction version, the object and its superiors are streamed out in the file version.

Abstract: A mechanical design reuse method includes having a CAD tool replicates a subset of a first modeling representation of a first mechanical design, in response to having received instructions that identify a subpart of the first mechanical design. The reuse method further includes having the CAD tool merges the replicated subset into a second modeling representation of a second mechanical design to effectuate the reuse of the identified subpart of the first mechanical design in the second mechanical design. In one embodiment, the modeling representations are dependent graphs, and the subsets being replicated and merged are sub-graphs of the dependent graphs. The dependent graphs and sub-graphs include nodes directly associated with the subparts of the designs, nodes on which the directly associated nodes are dependent, and arcs linking the nodes together in accordance with their dependency on each other.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention comprises a collection of techniques to infer the real construction of a collection of graphical elements. Typically the underlying graphical elements of a physical object have a parent-child relationship in the graphical display and picking database. The invention examines the children of a parent seeking relationships like co-linear, closed polygon, etc., and then answers “hit” detect queries for areas that are not specifically stroked, but are also inferred to be “real”, e.g., spaces in a dashed or patterned line, the area of a closed polygon, etc. Certain allowances and flexibility must be taken into account in this process. For example, one or more embodiments do not include “text” children on a stroke by stroke basis, but instead may look to the bounding box of the text for selection. One or more embodiments of the invention obtain a selection request from the user.

Abstract: A framework is described that serves as an expression evaluator and notification manager for software objects, and can traverse individual object models to use parts of one model to define another. An object model (data model) is a map of an object's properties and methods, and the framework of the present invention binds to the properties and methods and intercepts access to the properties for storage and evaluation of variables within the definitions of the properties. Binding the framework to the object accesses and uses the type info for the object to determine the properties of the object. In addition, the framework provides a method for the object author to override and specialize the properties to describe extensions of the type information.

Abstract: A computer-implemented drawing tool provides a number of different measurement functions in the context of reviewing and marking up drawings. Drawings may be annotated by the drawing tool using a Measure object, wherein the Measure object is placed proximate to one of the other objects in the drawing and then queries the object for one or more measurement values stored therein. These measurement values may comprise a distance, a multi-distance (e.g., path of travel), or area. The Measure object displays the measurement values queried from the object when it is displayed on a monitor of a computer by the drawing tool.

Abstract: An intelligent shape is displayed in conjunction with a CAD application program, wherein the intelligent shape selectively displays positioning and alignment aids on the monitor of the computer to assist a user in operating one or more functions of the host application program. When invoked, and a first object is positioned proximate to a second object on the monitor, plugs of the first object are displayed on the first object. The plugs indicate one or more respective attachment points on the first object. A socket is created on the second object when the plug of the first object is placed proximate to the second object. The socket indicates an attachment point between the first object and the second object. The first object and the second object are automatically coupling together at the attachment point.

Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that access a computer aided design (CAD) model information corresponding to a CAD model. Once the CAD model information is accessed, the computer instructions operate to determine a time value corresponding to the CAD model information based at least upon a complexity value associated with the CAD model. The determined time value facilitates scheduling for completion of the CAD model. As a result, a design schedule utilizing solid model information is determined. In one embodiment, the computer instructions are part of a mechanical design software application. In one embodiment, the mechanical software application, including the computer instructions, is embodied in a distribution storage medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide access to a user's profile information to a location based service, location enable user profile information in external databases, portals, etc., and allow the seamless/transparent provision of location services using both internal and external profile information. A compact definition of a schema of an external database (that comprises a user's profile information) is stored. Data source information that describes how to connect and communicate with the external database and a structured query language (SQL) statement is stored, wherein the statement, upon execution, extracts properties from the external database corresponding to the compact definition. A foreign key identifies a record in the external database and positional information for the record in the external database is stored as a geocoding index. The stored information is then used to provide access to the user's profile information.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture enable the use of location based applications (LBA). A location server (LS) on a wireless network receives trigger information from a LBA that is located outside of the wireless network. The trigger information defines a source locatable, spatial information (defining spatial criteria for a target locatable), a notification flag (describing) an interaction between the source locatable and the spatial criteria), and temporal information (defining a time period the trigger will be active). The LS determines if the triggers are active based on the temporal information and obtains updated locations if the trigger is active. Active triggers are evaluated to determine if a trigger alert has been caused by the locatables interacting with each other pursuant to the spatial information and notification flag. A location answer is pushed to the LBA if a trigger alert has been caused.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for ballooning an assembly drawing of a computer aided design. In one implementation, a set of anchor points is received and a set of balloons is arranged along a polygon enclosing a region including the set of anchor points. The set of balloons is iterated through, and the balloons in the set of balloons are attached to anchor points in the set of anchor points by leaders. Upon completion of one iteration no two leaders intersect.