Abstract: In one embodiment, techniques are used to create a customized 3-D menu for controlling an application (e.g., a CAD application) leveraging the application's native storage format to describe the menu's appearance and function. The menu is defined using elements of a model to which commands are associated within the storage format. The elements, upon later display, operate as menu items, whose selection activates the associated command. The application's (e.g., the CAD application's) visualization capabilities may be used to rotate, zoom, or otherwise manipulated the model in in 3-D space to create a desired appearance. A view of the model is then stored within the storage format to defined an initial appearance of the 3-D menu. Upon later display, the view of the 3-D menu is loaded to provide the defined initial appearance.

Abstract: An element template system allowing users to define a named set of element symbology properties to be associated with a graphic element is provided. When the element template is active, it sets the active drawing settings to match the template and associates newly created elements with the active template. Once elements are associated with an element template, the template can be used for checking for compliance with a graphics standards for that project. The element templates technology can be used to update elements and existing files to match a specific set of template properties. The element templates defining a particular graphic element are stored in the same design file as that graphic element so that when the graphic element design file is transported the element templates are also transported with the file, thereby eliminating a need to be coupled to a database or other form of external data.

Abstract: A system and method providing a user definable task based interface is described. A software program typically includes a number of tools. The tools may be utilized to perform operations on data, such as creating or editing a file using the software program. A user of the software program may organize the tools into tasks, based on the what the tools are used for. A task may be defined as a set of tools grouped to facilitate a particular work item. The task and associated tools are then presented together in the user interface. For example, a task may be to “draw a foundation.” The tools necessary for drawing a foundation may include measuring, drawing boundaries, etc. The tools for these steps in drawing the foundation may be grouped together into a task. The task and associated tools may then presented to a user via a user interface for the software program. For example, an icon representing the task “draw a foundation” may be presented in the user interface.

Abstract: A system and method providing an optimal way to create, manage and use resource data is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system and method provide the ability to store resource data in a library, namely a resource library. A resource library includes resource files that can be attached to a regular data file either automatically, for example, by setting an environment variable, or manually. More than one resource library or resource file may be created and simultaneously attached to a data file. The resource file defines attributes of elements that may be used in creating the CAD model. Typically, the resource library includes attributes that are to be standardized across a project, file, or model.

Abstract: An element template system allowing users to define a named set of element symbology properties to be associated with a graphic element is provided. When the element template is active, it sets the active drawing settings to match the template and associates newly created elements with the active template. Once elements are associated with an element template, the template can be used for checking for compliance with a graphics standards for that project. The element templates technology can be used to update elements and existing files to match a specific set of template properties. The element templates defining a particular graphic element are stored in the same design file as that graphic element so that when the graphic element design file is transported the element templates are also transported with the file, thereby eliminating a need to be coupled to a database or other form of external data.

Abstract: Three values for each CAD image element are set: an element priority, a level priority, and a model reference priority. In addition, for the CAD project that contains the CAD image element, a separate priority multiplier value may be set project-wide for elements, levels, and models, creating an element priority multiplier, a level priority multiplier, and a model reference priority multiplier. Once the priority values and priority multiplier values have been set, either by default values or by the user, the values are used to calculate an image depth for each CAD image element. The image depth values are stored, for example in a z-buffer, and can be used to set the display priority for the CAD image elements regardless of the order in which they are placed into the image.

Abstract: A system and method providing a user definable task based interface is described. A software program typically includes a number of tools. The tools may be utilized to perform operations on data, such as creating or editing a file using the software program. A user of the software program may organize the tools into tasks, based on the what the tools are used for. A task may be defined as a set of tools grouped to facilitate a particular work item. The task and associated tools are then presented together in the user interface. For example, a task may be to “draw a foundation.” The tools necessary for drawing a foundation may include measuring, drawing boundaries, etc. The tools for these steps in drawing the foundation may be grouped together into a task. The task and associated tools may then presented to a user via a user interface for the software program. For example, an icon representing the task “draw a foundation” may be presented in the user interface.

Abstract: Three values for each CAD image element are set: an element priority, a level priority, and a model reference priority. In addition, for the CAD project that contains the CAD image element, a separate priority multiplier value may be set project-wide for elements, levels, and models, creating an element priority multiplier, a level priority multiplier, and a model reference priority multiplier. Once the priority values and priority multiplier values have been set, either by default values or by the user, the values are used to calculate an image depth for each CAD image element. The image depth values are stored, for example in a z-buffer, and can be used to set the display priority for the CAD image elements regardless of the order in which they are placed into the image.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for displaying option information on a computer display screen. The method includes displaying a workspace and at least one icon, presenting a non-modal dialog box when a predetermined icon is chosen, providing a preference option that may hide or shrink the non-modal dialog box, and providing a means for restoring the non-modal dialog box. The dialog box may subsequently be restored in a manner and a location chosen by the user.

Abstract: A system and method providing an optimal way to create, manage and use resource data is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the system and method provide the ability to store resource data in a library, namely a resource library. A resource library includes resource files that can be attached to a regular data file either automatically, for example, by setting an environment variable, or manually. More than one resource library or resource file may be created and simultaneously attached to a data file. The resource file defines attributes of elements that may be used in creating the CAD model. Typically, the resource library includes attributes that are to be standardized across a project, file, or model.

Abstract: The present invention can include a method in a computer system for automatically connecting drawing elements to other drawing elements, which can include selecting one or more snap modes from a set of snap modes; drawing an element in a graphics file with a cursor; moving the cursor to a position within a distance tolerance of a second drawing element; automatically determining a set of snap points from the position of the cursor, based on the selected snap modes; visually highlighting a snap point; releasing the end of the first element; and automatically connecting the end of the first element with the snap point.

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.