Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus allow for easy and efficient structural design and/or reconfiguration while using existing stock components. One or more implementations allow a designer to import a stock file containing an inventory of stock components that are usable as part of a structural design. In particular, one or more implementations allow the stock components to be used in a structural design while tracking, in real-time, the availability of stock components. Furthermore, one or more implementations automatically correlate stock components with existing components of a structural design or with new components as a designer inserts them into the structural design. Additionally, one or more implementations visually distinguish between new components in the structural design and stock components in the structural design. Furthermore, one or more implementations auto-select or modify surrounding components in the structural design to match an inserted stock component.

Abstract: A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create a valid functional system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can apply rules and behaviors automatically, not only providing an accurate, valid layout, but also optimizing the layout. The intelligent, object-oriented software can recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design.

Abstract: An object-oriented design program provides is configured to instantly render in a three-dimensional interface user CAD designs received as CAD-based design elements (e.g., CAD blocks or lines). The object-oriented program renders the user CAD designs regardless of whether the user designs are practical, or use finishes or colors that are in-stock for the selected design elements. In addition, the object-oriented program can also create intelligent software objects for the CAD-based elements at a later time, upon request by the user. The intelligent software objects can be configured to automatically resolve themselves in view of one or more system limitations and rules in related components, and to replicate any such resolution back to the CAD-based blocks if desired. Thus, a user can have the benefits of instant 3D rendering of CAD drawings with or without the automatic resolution provided by intelligent software objects, depending on the situation.

Abstract: Design software in accordance with an implementation of the present invention is configured to provide believable three-dimensional representations of user selections in real-time. Design elements that would otherwise be difficult to efficiently render three-dimensionally in real-time are prerendered for realistic visual effects, such as realistic shading, which correspond to various positions of the elements in a design space. Blanks of the visual effects for each position are then stored in a data store for visual effects. At run time, data associated with user design choices, as well as the blanks for any corresponding design elements are fed in one implementation to peripheral processing hardware, such as a GPU, which sends the processed data to a display device. The user is therefore able to view complex visual data of certain design choices efficiently with added realism.

Abstract: A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create an accurate and complete furniture system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can automatically recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design by constraining vertical placement of components or automatically generating interconnections between components.

Abstract: A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create an accurate and complete furniture system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can automatically recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design by constraining vertical placement of components or automatically generating interconnections between components.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and design software allow for easy and efficient rendering, displaying, navigation, and/or sharing of computer generated designs and models. One or more implementations allow a user to share the geometry and the graphical attributes of a three-dimensional model without sharing the source file or the proprietary details of the source file. In particular, the one or more implementations provide the ability to capture the geometry and the graphical attributes of a three-dimensional model, and share then captured geometry with others. Furthermore, one or more implementations can allow for sharing of the geometry and graphical attributes of a three-dimensional model without requiring the viewer to have the software used to create the three-dimensional model.

Abstract: A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create an accurate and complete furniture system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can automatically recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design by constraining vertical placement of components or automatically generating interconnections between components.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention allow a user to work within a record-based design environment while achieving the advantages provided by an object-oriented database. In particular, the user of components in accordance with the present invention can create designs within a record-based application program, within an object-oriented application program, or within a third application program linked by the object-oriented program, and still have the graphical representation thereof visibly displayed in the record-based application program.

Abstract: A software application can capture product parameters and attributes in order to allow a non-expert user to create a valid functional system layout in a design space. To enable accurate layouts, the software application can automatically apply all applicable components, connectors, rules, attributes, codes, and behaviors to each component/design element in the design space. The intelligent, object-oriented software can apply rules and behaviors automatically, not only providing an accurate, valid layout, but also optimizing the layout. The intelligent, object-oriented software can recognize required changes effected by a user-driven change, and automatically resolve the layout design.

Abstract: An object-oriented design program provides is configured to instantly render in a three-dimensional interface user CAD designs received as CAD-based design elements (e.g., CAD blocks or lines). The object-oriented program renders the user CAD designs regardless of whether the user designs are practical, or use finishes or colors that are in-stock for the selected design elements. In addition, the object-oriented program can also create intelligent software objects for the CAD-based elements at a later time, upon request by the user. The intelligent software objects can be configured to automatically resolve themselves in view of one or more system limitations and rules in related components, and to replicate any such resolution back to the CAD-based blocks if desired. Thus, a user can have the benefits of instant 3D rendering of CAD drawings with or without the automatic resolution provided by intelligent software objects, depending on the situation.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention allow a user to work within a record-based design environment while achieving the advantages provided by an object-oriented database. In particular, the user of components in accordance with the present invention can create designs within a record-based application program, within an object-oriented application program, or within a third application program linked by the object-oriented program, and still have the graphical representation thereof visibly displayed in the record-based application program.

Abstract: Design software in accordance with an implementation of the present invention is configured to provide believable three-dimensional representations of user selections in real-time. Design elements that would otherwise be difficult to efficiently render three-dimensionally in real-time are prerendered for realistic visual effects, such as realistic shading, which correspond to various positions of the elements in a design space. Blanks of the visual effects for each position are then stored in a data store for visual effects. At run time, data associated with user design choices, as well as the blanks for any corresponding design elements are fed in one implementation to peripheral processing hardware, such as a GPU, which sends the processed data to a display device. The user is therefore able to view complex visual data of certain design choices efficiently with added realism.

Abstract: A software program for use in designing interior and exterior spaces receives user input that is associated with one or more attributes. Subsequent user input, having other attributes, is resolved in light of the first input attributes to create a real-world depiction of design choices in real-time. For example, design choices that conflict with prior design choices are resolved (or modified as necessary) to ensure that each of the prior and present user input choices are represented in an appropriate way. The resolution by the design software is also used to create an accurate parts (and/or price) list so that when the user has completed the design of an exterior or interior space, the design can be submitted directly as an order to be fulfilled. Generally, continual resolution ensures that the user's design intent is captured in an accurate and efficient way in a user interface.

Abstract: Software for designing interior and/or exterior spaces efficiently ensures that user intent is captured in a timely, practical manner. When a user creates an input, such as selecting a shape of a table to put into a design space, the design software creates an initial object that is managed as part of a data structure. Generally, the initial object includes a type element having one or more options. Program code in the created initial object determines an appropriate option based on any number of factors including, but not limited to, elements of the user's original input. A subsequent child object with a set of independent program code is also created, which has as its type the option determined from the previous initial object. The subsequent object also determines its options based on attributes of the user's input, and creates any additional child objects where appropriate.