Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that receive an indication of a manipulation of one or more graphical icons by a user, where the graphical icons are interrelated to one another representing a hierarchical relationship among multiple objects of one or more sheets, and the sheets are included within a drawing by a computer aided design (CAD) application program. The computer instructions operate to automatically modify at least sheet order information included within the objects of the one or more sheets reflecting the hierarchical relationship among the multiple objects of one or more sheets based, at least in part, upon the received indication.

Abstract: A technique for reducing the total storage used in representing data having spatial extents. The data is represented in a tree structure having a plurality of nodes, wherein each of the nodes has parent and child relationship to one or more others of the nodes in the tree structure. An encoded representation of the relation of a child node's extents with respect to its parent is stored in the node. A preorder traversal of the tree structure is performed to store it compactly in an output file.

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, parametric feature-based, solid modeling system which generates tolerant, persistent and unique names for topological entities of a loft feature. The system uses similarity analysis to preserve and update the names, so that they are tolerant to partial topology changes in the loft feature.

Abstract: Computer instructions for a Computer Aide Design (CAD) system that operate to automatically facilitate a user in manipulating geometric constraints associated with a first piece of geometry of a mechanical design, when executed, are disclosed. The computer instructions operate to facilitate the manipulation responsive to a location of a cursor, when the location is within a predetermined proximity of the first piece of geometry. In one embodiment, the computer instructions are part of a mechanical design software application.

Abstract: A computer-implemented solid modeling system provides a graph-based method for multi-bodied sweep terminations in a computer-implemented solid modeling system. A planar profile of one or more curves is generated, and the profile swept along a specified path to generate a tool body. The swept profile is terminated after the tool body interacts with a plurality of blank bodies to a predefined extent. The termination is comprised of three phases: (1) a pre-processing phase is performed to label faces and edges of the tool and blank bodies; (2) an analysis phase is performed to extract tool and blank graphs for the labeled faces and edges; and (3) a post-processing phase is performed to integrate results from the extracted tool and blank graphs.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing data between a graphical client and a stateless server. Descriptions of one or more root object nodes of a scene is downloaded from the server to the graphical client, wherein the descriptions may include references to other object nodes in the form of unique persistent identifiers for the referenced object nodes with their associated bounding volumes. The bounding volumes for the object nodes are intersected with a view frustum in the graphical client to determine a set of visible and undefined object nodes. Descriptions of the object nodes in the set of visible and undefined object nodes are then downloaded from the server to the graphical client, wherein the descriptions include unique persistent identifiers for the object nodes with their associated bounding volumes. A determination is made whether the downloaded object nodes reference other object nodes, and if so, the steps are repeated for the other object nodes.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics program provides affinitive placement of objects by proximity, wherein two or more objects are automatically placed in a drawing relative to one another using similarly-situated and previously-placed objects as examples for the suggested placement of the objects.

Abstract: A method for performing accurate and reliable page size selection in a PostScript™ device. A PolicyReport procedure is downloaded into the device to perform the following steps. If the device is using a non-standard PaperSize Policy, then the procedure uses the PageSize SetPageDevice call; otherwise, the procedure loops through the PageSizes for each media source stored in the InputAttributes dictionary to find the nearest PageSize entry favoring non-rotated over rotated for identical match sizes. The loop is terminated when an exact match is found with no rotation or when all available paper sizes have been exhausted. The loop is optimized not to look for closest matches once it has found a perfect size match and to terminate when it has found a perfect non-rotated match.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for compressing a series of data values is describe. Common and non-common digits between two successive data values are identified, and a compressed data value from the non-common digits and a code identifying the common digits is formed. Compressed data values are decompressed by substituting the digits common between a first and a second data value into the first compressed data value according to the code.

Abstract: A user-selectable option for preserving draw order upon selection of an object displayed on a monitor. Once the object is selected from among a plurality of objects displayed on the monitor, at least a portion of an area displayed on the monitor is redrawn in a manner that visually identifies the selected object while preserving a draw order of the objects displayed on the monitor.

Abstract: A reusable model of a three-dimensional object is created on a computer system. The reusable model includes model objects and internal constraints on the model objects. The internal constraints maintain the structure of the reusable model with respect to the three-dimensional object. The reusable model can have inputs that accept directed and non-directed external constraints with models using the reusable model. The inputs define the direct methods for modifying the structure of the reusable model. The reusable model can have outputs that have directed constraints with models using the reusable model. The outputs provide a direct method for using the structure of the reusable model to modify the structure of the model using the reusable model. Nondirected constraints may be associated between the model using the reusable model and the reusable model to position the reusable model in the model.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, for implementing a relative polar angle snap tool. The relative polar angle snap tool allows the user to define lines and shapes that are at pre-settable angles relative to existing lines and shapes, and at pre-settable lengths.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention provide a collaboration framework for collaborating access to a drawing document on a network. A drawing document is stored on a server. Thereafter, a collaboration session comprised of two or more collaborators on a network is established. During the collaboration session, the server permits the two or more collaborators to work simultaneously across the network on the drawing document stored on the server. A command to modify the drawing document from a first collaborator is received by the server. The server then distributes the command to modify the drawing document to other collaborators in the session.

Abstract: A Control B protocol for PostScript™ devices allows data to be compressed and transmitted to the PostScript™ device without the need of having bi-directional communications between the sending and receiving device to check for Control B capability or activation. The Control B protocol allows data to be transmitted in binary format, while control functions are represented by quoted character codes, thereby resulting in an efficient use of bandwidth between the devices.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics system processes one or more objects stored in a database to create a graphical image and then delivers the graphical image to an output device. Each of the objects includes constructive geometric data stored therein. The constructive geometric data identifies at least one constructive system, and the constructive system identifies at least one constraint on the processing of the objects by the image engine.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented geographic information system that enables viewing a map picture that is generated from vector-based data. Map pictures can be generated with vector-based data. Map pictures created with vector-based data can be viewed. Additionally, map pictures are comprised of map objects, such as states and cities. Map objects can be chosen to obtain additional information, for example, a different map picture. Additionally, areas of the map picture can be zoomed in on to view the areas with greater resolution or to obtain additional data about the areas. Furthermore, when a user requests to view a map picture, only the map data required to respond to the user's request is downloaded to generate a map picture. As a user makes additional requests for information, additional map data is downloaded and new map pictures generated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and representing error messages within a computer-aided design environment is described. The present invention allows error/warning information to be stored in a central storage location by the function in which the error/warning causing fault occurs. The function then returns a result indicating that the function did not perform as expected. The calling function does not add an error/warning message of its own when returning, if necessary, to another calling function. Thus, only a single warning/error message can be stored and used for reporting the fault that caused the error/warning. In one embodiment, a hierarchical graphical error/warning log provides varying levels of error/warning information in response to user input.

Abstract: A computer-implemented graphics program performs visual annotative clipping, wherein the graphics objects in a document that include one or more clear zones are identified and collected into a clear zone list, and then all graphics objects in the document are compared to the identified graphics objects in the clear zone list to determine what elements of the compared graphics objects should be clipped because they extend into the clear zones.

Abstract: A system and method of interactively determining and displaying geometric relationships between three dimensional (3D) objects includes the steps of and apparatus for detecting the position of an input device, moving a selected 3D graphic object relative to a graphic pointing symbol in a 3D representation based on position of the input device, determining if the selected graphic object is moved to occlude an underlying 3D graphic object, and positioning and displaying the selected graphic object with respect to the underlying graphic object according to predetermined geometric constraints and the position of the input device. The system and method further dynamically moves and displays the selected graphic object according to movement of the input device and the predetermined geometric constraints while the selected graphic object occludes the underlying graphic object.