Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide data file interoperability between two drawing programs using a single composite drawing file. A method of generating a drawing file shared by a source application and a target application includes storing a copy of a computer aided design (CAD) drawing in a composite drawing file, where the CAD drawing is stored according to a drawing format used by the source application. The method also includes generating a visual representation of the CAD drawing, where the visual representation is formatted according to a drawing format used by the target application. The method also includes storing the visual representation in the composite drawing file, where a display of the visual representation generated by the target application is substantially similar to a display of the CAD drawing generated by the source application.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide data file interoperability between two drawing programs using a single composite drawing file. A method of generating a drawing file shared by a source application and a target application includes storing a copy of a computer aided design (CAD) drawing in a composite drawing file, where the CAD drawing is stored according to a drawing format used by the source application. The method also includes generating a visual representation of the CAD drawing, where the visual representation is formatted according to a drawing format used by the target application. The method also includes storing the visual representation in the composite drawing file, where a display of the visual representation generated by the target application is substantially similar to a display of the CAD drawing generated by the source application.

Abstract: The invention includes computer instructions that operate to generate a failure indication upon encountering a failure during an operation performed for a user design. The instructions further operate to automatically facilitate a user in determining a solution for the failure. As a result, the invention provides improved error reporting and recovery.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved error recovery method and apparatus for computer aided design (CAD) environments. When a failure is identified in a feature of a CAD assembly, a set of treatments is automatically provided for the failure from which to select. The set of treatments is based, at least in part, on the particular failure. In one embodiment, information to identify and/or illustrate one or more failures within a particular feature is collected and stored in persistent memory. Then, when the particular feature is indicated, the information can be retrieved and provided in various formats, including text, graphics, and/or procedures, to assist a user in better understanding the failures. In another embodiment, when a treatment is selected from a set of treatments for a particular failure, the selected treatment is automatically initiated.

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 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.