Abstract: In a method, device and computer-readable medium for searching automatically for a similar or equal computer-accessible design model of an electronic library, multiple design models of components are provided. In a first phase, for each of these design models, a substitute design model is calculated, and then, using this substitute model, a set of attribute values of the design model. In a second phase, a computer-accessible outline of a component is provided. A substitute outline and a set of attribute values for the substitute outline are calculated. For each provided design model, the distance of the attribute value set of this design model from the attribute value set of the substitute outline is calculated. The design model which has the shortest distance from the outline is determined.