US20010035872A1 - Method of defining a computer-generated intelligent symbol - Google Patents
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- US20010035872A1 US20010035872A1 US09/823,055 US82305501A US2001035872A1 US 20010035872 A1 US20010035872 A1 US 20010035872A1 US 82305501 A US82305501 A US 82305501A US 2001035872 A1 US2001035872 A1 US 2001035872A1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 37
- 238000011960 computer-aided design Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 7
- WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N alstonine Natural products C1=CC2=C3C=CC=CC3=NC2=C2N1C[C@H]1[C@H](C)OC=C(C(=O)OC)[C@H]1C2 WYTGDNHDOZPMIW-RCBQFDQVSA-N 0.000 description 1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/048—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
- G06F3/0481—Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to the field of software for Computer Aided Design, or “CAD.” More specifically, it relates to software for use in a CAD system for creating two-dimensional diagrams, including but not limited to flow charts, electrical schematics, plant processes and the like.
- CAD Computer Aided Design
- diagrams most often consist of representational graphical objects or symbols interconnected by straight, curved or serpentine lines, chains of lines, or other shapes such as arrows which illustrate the connectivity between symbols. Examples of such diagrams are electronic circuit diagrams or computer flow charts. Some kinds of diagrams, such as architectural space plans, do not require connecting lines and symbols may be connected directly to each other.
- the symbols are made up of individual graphical entities, such as lines, circles, arcs, text and images. Different software companies may refer to symbols using terminology such as “blocks” or “shapes”.
- connection point locations for symbols on intelligent diagrams consist of a small symbol, such as an “X” which appears at each connection point location.
- X an “X” which appears at each connection point location.
- the present invention provides an efficient and easy-to-use method of defining and manipulating an intelligent symbol which facilitates the editing of symbols so that connections between symbols can be readily added and edited.
- the present invention to be used in a computer aided design system, is a method of defining an intelligent symbol.
- the method comprises the steps of defining a computer-generated symbol which is made up of a graphical entity and a connection point having a position in relation to a reference point.
- a connection point positioning symbol associated with the computer-generated symbol is defined.
- the connection point positioning symbol has a location and an angle.
- the coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol are generated. These coordinates describe the position of the connection point in relation to a reference point.
- the angle of the connection point positioning symbol is generated. This angle describes a direction of the connection point positioning symbol in relation to a reference angle.
- a symbol definition for the computer-generated symbol is thus built.
- the definition comprises the coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol and the angle of the connection point positioning symbol.
- the present invention also comprises a method of editing an intelligent symbol by defining a connection point positioning symbol which indicates the angle and location of a connection to the intelligent symbol.
- FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the preferred method for using connection point positioning symbols to define connection points for intelligent symbols
- FIG. 2A shows the basic structure of an intelligent symbol of the prior art
- FIG. 2B shows an intelligent symbol with connectors which allow it to be connected to other symbols
- FIG. 2C shows an intelligent symbol with added connection point positioning symbols of the present invention
- FIG. 2D shows a connection point positioning symbol of the present invention
- FIG. 2E shows the editing of a connection point positioning symbol and the addition of a new connection point positioning symbol
- FIG. 2F shows an intelligent symbol with connectors changed using the present invention and with the connection point positioning symbols hidden
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart which shows the preferred method for generating connection point positioning symbols for the connection point(s) of an intelligent symbol
- FIG. 4 is a flow chart which shows the preferred method for placing a connection point positioning symbol to define a new connection point for an intelligent symbol.
- FIG. 5A shows an alternative embodiment in which the connection point location is displaced from the symbol.
- FIG. 5B shows a graphical window for displaying and editing a connection point angle.
- Entity data defining a graphical object, such as a line, circle, text, etc. which forms part of a symbol.
- Elements 13 and 14 are examples of entities in FIG. 2A.
- Symbol a collection of entities which can be manipulated as a single object.
- Symbol 2 in FIG. 2A is an example of a symbol which contains entities 13 and 14 .
- Symbol origin the reference point from which the symbol entities are measured, typically at 0 , 0 on an X, Y coordinate system.
- 3 indicates the origin of symbol 2 .
- Connector An object which shows a graphical association between symbols.
- 18 a and 22 are connectors.
- Connection point A point on a symbol at which a connector joins to the symbol so that the symbol can be connected to one or more other symbols.
- points 9 and 5 are
- connection points [0026] connection points. Symbols can also be connected directly to other symbols at connection points.
- FIG. 2A An intelligent symbol is shown in FIG. 2A.
- This symbol is defined to include graphical entities 13 and 14 and origin 3 .
- the symbol definition also includes connection points 5 and 9 .
- FIG. 2B shows connector 18 a connected to entity 14 and connector 22 connected to entity 13 .
- connector 18 a is connected to entity 14 at connection point 9 which has a position defined relative to the origin 3 .
- Connector 22 is connected to entity 13 at connection point 5 which also has a position defined relative to origin 3 .
- Connector 18 a forms an angle 4 a at connection point 9 relative to reference angle 16 .
- connector 22 forms an angle 6 at connection point 5 .
- Symbol 2 is defined in terms of data representing the items just described, preferably but not necessarily including angle data.
- the connection points can of course be defined relative to any convenient reference point, can be at any location, and may or may not be related to a graphical entity of the intelligent symbol.
- symbol 2 has been defined in the manner described above.
- the operator opens symbol 2 for editing at S 1 .
- Different software programs provide editing for symbols in different ways.
- editing comprises the ability by the operator to add, remove or modify symbol connection points.
- connection point 9 (see FIG. 2B).
- location of connection point 9 (see FIG. 2C) is determined with respect to symbol origin 3 .
- the location of connection point 9 is previously stored as part of the definition of symbol 2 .
- angle 4 a (see FIG. 2B) is determined with respect to reference angle 16 .
- angle 4 a is also previously stored as part of the definition of symbol 2 .
- angle 4 a can be determined from another geometric relationship, for example, from the angle of connector 18 a attached to connection point 9 , or from the position of connection point 9 with respect to symbol origin 3 , or from the size boundaries of symbol 2 .
- connection point positioning symbol looks up the definition of the appearance of the connection point positioning symbol.
- the general appearance of a connection point positioning symbol is pre-stored and determined by the application software.
- the connection point positioning symbol is made up of a first end 19 to be located at a connection point and a second end having a dot or handle 17 .
- the line between first end 19 and handle 17 forms angle 21 relative to a reference angle. This is shown in FIG. 2D.
- connection point positioning symbol 10 a is displayed at connection point 9 , making angle 4 a which describes the direction of the connection point positioning symbol relative to reference angle 16 (but any convenient reference angle can be used).
- the coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol are taken to be the coordinates of the location of first end 19 relative to origin 3 (but any convenient origin can be used).
- Steps S 20 through S 26 are then repeated for each remaining connection point defined for the symbol.
- the flow chart now returns to step S 3 in FIG. 1.
- connection point positioning symbols for every connection point are displayed simultaneously during editing.
- connection point positioning symbols are displayed only while they are being modified or created. In that case, when the operator selects a connection point to modify, the connection point positioning symbol for that connection point is displayed. The other connection point positioning symbols remain hidden.
- connection point positioning symbol(s) Once symbol 2 is opened for editing and the connection point positioning symbol(s) are generated, the user chooses whether to create a new connection point or modify an existing connection point. See S 3 . If the user chooses to modify an existing connection point, the program branches to step S 6 where the operator enters data identifying the connection point positioning symbol to modify, for example connection point positioning symbol 1 O a in FIG. 2C. The user can now choose to edit or delete the connection point positioning symbol. See step S 8 .
- connection point positioning symbol may be specified by the operator by graphically moving or rotating the connection point positioning symbol via a pointing device or numerically via keyboard entry. See step S 10 .
- the operator selects connection point positioning symbol 10 a and rotates it to a new angle 4 b, as shown in FIG. 2E.
- the modified connection point positioning symbol is shown as 10 b in FIG. 2E.
- connection point positioning symbol is displayed at the connection point.
- the connection point positioning symbol may be displaced from the connection point.
- two related symbols are used which together define the connection point location and angle.
- the connection point positioning symbol is split into location symbol 20 which defines the connection point location and angle symbol 30 which rotates about point 28 to define angle 29 .
- the angle connection point positioning symbol can be displayed to the operator anywhere, including in a separate window or control panel such as shown in FIG. 5B.
- the angle of the connection point can be displayed and adjusted using a dial 32 , slider 36 , or other methods. Radio button 34 , numerical 38 or other entry methods may also be used.
- step S 28 in FIG. 4 a flow chart of a method to create a new connection point positioning symbol at an operator specified location and angle.
- the operator is prompted for a location for the new connection point.
- the operator inputs the connection point location 7 (see FIG. 2E) at step S 30 .
- the appearance of the connection point positioning symbol is retrieved from the software application data.
- a new connection point positioning symbol 11 is displayed at point 7 at a default angle (not shown).
- the operator is prompted at step S 36 for an angle and orients connection point positioning symbol 11 to angle 25 at step S 38 by selecting the connection point positioning symbol and rotating it about point 7 until it is in the desired, preferably orthogonal, orientation.
- connection point positioning symbol is hidden prior to the next editing operation.
- connection point positioning symbol 11 the newly created connection point location 7 and angle 25 are determined from connection point positioning symbol 11 and added to the computer definition of symbol 2 .
- the angle 4 b of connection point positioning symbol 10 b for modified connection point 9 is determined and added to the computer definition of symbol 2 .
- any connection point which had its connection point positioning symbol deleted by the operator at step S 8 is removed from the computer definition of its respective symbol.
- the connection point positioning symbols are hidden and the operator can continue to edit the intelligent diagram.
- connector 18 b will now be joined to symbol 2 .
- Connector 18 b connects at the new angle 4 b and a location determined by connection point positioning symbol 10 b in FIG. 2E.
- New connector 26 (see FIG. 2F) will connect to symbol 2 at connection point 7 at angle 25 of new connection point positioning symbol 11 as shown in FIG. 2E.
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Abstract
In a computer aided design system, an intelligent symbol is made up of graphical entities. Connectors join the entities to other entities at connection points. When the symbol is moved, the connectivity between entities must be maintained. A connection point positioning symbol is generated, forming part of a definition of the intelligent symbol. The connection point positioning symbol has a position and an angle which describe the connection point. The connection point positioning symbol can be displayed and then hidden from view. The connection point positioning symbol allows the user to edit a connection to the intelligent symbol.
Description
- This invention relates generally to the field of software for Computer Aided Design, or “CAD.” More specifically, it relates to software for use in a CAD system for creating two-dimensional diagrams, including but not limited to flow charts, electrical schematics, plant processes and the like.
- In CAD systems, diagrams most often consist of representational graphical objects or symbols interconnected by straight, curved or serpentine lines, chains of lines, or other shapes such as arrows which illustrate the connectivity between symbols. Examples of such diagrams are electronic circuit diagrams or computer flow charts. Some kinds of diagrams, such as architectural space plans, do not require connecting lines and symbols may be connected directly to each other. The symbols are made up of individual graphical entities, such as lines, circles, arcs, text and images. Different software companies may refer to symbols using terminology such as “blocks” or “shapes”.
- Software is widely available which automates the manipulation and interconnection of symbols, so that when an operator changes the position or other parameter of a symbol, all connections and/or symbols associated with that symbol reconfigure themselves to maintain that association. Such software is available from Visio Corp. under the name “Visio Technical”. Complex connections can be created between symbols by simply picking start and end points. Symbols and connections which provide this automatic behavior are referred to as “intelligent”, or “smart” symbols and connections.
- Part of the definition of an intelligent symbol is made up of the locations of the connection points to which intelligent connections are to be attached. Existing graphical methods of displaying connection point locations for symbols on intelligent diagrams consist of a small symbol, such as an “X” which appears at each connection point location. These connection point symbols must be kept relatively small in order to prevent screen clutter, and are difficult to select and manipulate. Existing methods are therefore very cumbersome and do not permit easy editing of symbols, especially in cases where connectivity is relatively complex.
- The present invention provides an efficient and easy-to-use method of defining and manipulating an intelligent symbol which facilitates the editing of symbols so that connections between symbols can be readily added and edited.
- The present invention, to be used in a computer aided design system, is a method of defining an intelligent symbol. The method comprises the steps of defining a computer-generated symbol which is made up of a graphical entity and a connection point having a position in relation to a reference point. A connection point positioning symbol associated with the computer-generated symbol is defined. The connection point positioning symbol has a location and an angle. The coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol are generated. These coordinates describe the position of the connection point in relation to a reference point. The angle of the connection point positioning symbol is generated. This angle describes a direction of the connection point positioning symbol in relation to a reference angle. A symbol definition for the computer-generated symbol is thus built. The definition comprises the coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol and the angle of the connection point positioning symbol.
- The present invention also comprises a method of editing an intelligent symbol by defining a connection point positioning symbol which indicates the angle and location of a connection to the intelligent symbol.
- FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the preferred method for using connection point positioning symbols to define connection points for intelligent symbols;
- FIG. 2A shows the basic structure of an intelligent symbol of the prior art;
- FIG. 2B shows an intelligent symbol with connectors which allow it to be connected to other symbols;
- FIG. 2C shows an intelligent symbol with added connection point positioning symbols of the present invention;
- FIG. 2D shows a connection point positioning symbol of the present invention;
- FIG. 2E shows the editing of a connection point positioning symbol and the addition of a new connection point positioning symbol;
- FIG. 2F shows an intelligent symbol with connectors changed using the present invention and with the connection point positioning symbols hidden;
- FIG. 3 is a flow chart which shows the preferred method for generating connection point positioning symbols for the connection point(s) of an intelligent symbol;
- FIG. 4 is a flow chart which shows the preferred method for placing a connection point positioning symbol to define a new connection point for an intelligent symbol.
- FIG. 5A shows an alternative embodiment in which the connection point location is displaced from the symbol.
- FIG. 5B shows a graphical window for displaying and editing a connection point angle.
- The following is a description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. It is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. The full scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the claims and their equivalents.
- The following is a list of terms used throughout this description:
- Entity: data defining a graphical object, such as a line, circle, text, etc. which forms part of a symbol.
Elements - Symbol: a collection of entities which can be manipulated as a single object.
Symbol 2 in FIG. 2A is an example of a symbol which containsentities - Symbol origin: the reference point from which the symbol entities are measured, typically at0,0 on an X, Y coordinate system. In FIG. 2A, 3 indicates the origin of
symbol 2. - Connector: An object which shows a graphical association between symbols. In FIG. 2B, 18a and 22 are connectors.
- Connection point: A point on a symbol at which a connector joins to the symbol so that the symbol can be connected to one or more other symbols. In FIG. 2B, points9 and 5 are
- connection points. Symbols can also be connected directly to other symbols at connection points.
- The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 1 and FIGS.2A-F. The method is practiced using a suitably programmed digital computer, it being recognized that this description will enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to implement the invention in suitable computer code.
- An intelligent symbol is shown in FIG. 2A. This symbol is defined to include
graphical entities origin 3. The symbol definition also includes connection points 5 and 9. FIG. 2B showsconnector 18 a connected toentity 14 andconnector 22 connected toentity 13. As shown in FIG. 2B,connector 18 a is connected toentity 14 atconnection point 9 which has a position defined relative to theorigin 3.Connector 22 is connected toentity 13 atconnection point 5 which also has a position defined relative toorigin 3.Connector 18a forms anangle 4 a atconnection point 9 relative to referenceangle 16. Similarlyconnector 22 forms an angle 6 atconnection point 5.Symbol 2 is defined in terms of data representing the items just described, preferably but not necessarily including angle data. The connection points can of course be defined relative to any convenient reference point, can be at any location, and may or may not be related to a graphical entity of the intelligent symbol. - Now, referring to FIG. 1, it is assumed that
symbol 2 has been defined in the manner described above. The operator openssymbol 2 for editing at S1. Different software programs provide editing for symbols in different ways. In general, editing comprises the ability by the operator to add, remove or modify symbol connection points. - The program now branches to step S18 shown in FIG. 3. At step S18 each connection point in the definition of
intelligent symbol 2 is processed in accordance with steps S20 through S26 and a connection point positioning symbol (referred to as a “positioner” in the figures) is generated. Consider for purposes of illustration, connection point 9 (see FIG. 2B). At step S20, the location of connection point 9 (see FIG. 2C) is determined with respect tosymbol origin 3. The location ofconnection point 9 is previously stored as part of the definition ofsymbol 2. At step S22, the angle of the connection point—angle 4 a—(see FIG. 2B) is determined with respect toreference angle 16. Preferably,angle 4 a is also previously stored as part of the definition ofsymbol 2. Alternatively,angle 4 a can be determined from another geometric relationship, for example, from the angle ofconnector 18 a attached toconnection point 9, or from the position ofconnection point 9 with respect tosymbol origin 3, or from the size boundaries ofsymbol 2. - At step S24, the program looks up the definition of the appearance of the connection point positioning symbol. The general appearance of a connection point positioning symbol is pre-stored and determined by the application software. In the preferred embodiment, the connection point positioning symbol is made up of a
first end 19 to be located at a connection point and a second end having a dot or handle 17. The line betweenfirst end 19 and handle 17forms angle 21 relative to a reference angle. This is shown in FIG. 2D. - Referring now to step S26 in FIG. 3 and to FIG. 2C, connection
point positioning symbol 10 a is displayed atconnection point 9, makingangle 4 a which describes the direction of the connection point positioning symbol relative to reference angle 16 (but any convenient reference angle can be used). The coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol are taken to be the coordinates of the location offirst end 19 relative to origin 3 (but any convenient origin can be used). Thus a connection point positioning symbol having an angle and a location is defined for aparticular connection point 9 and displayed. Steps S20 through S26 are then repeated for each remaining connection point defined for the symbol. The flow chart now returns to step S3 in FIG. 1. - In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection point positioning symbols for every connection point are displayed simultaneously during editing. However, in an alternative embodiment, connection point positioning symbols are displayed only while they are being modified or created. In that case, when the operator selects a connection point to modify, the connection point positioning symbol for that connection point is displayed. The other connection point positioning symbols remain hidden.
- Once
symbol 2 is opened for editing and the connection point positioning symbol(s) are generated, the user chooses whether to create a new connection point or modify an existing connection point. See S3. If the user chooses to modify an existing connection point, the program branches to step S6 where the operator enters data identifying the connection point positioning symbol to modify, for example connection point positioning symbol 1Oa in FIG. 2C. The user can now choose to edit or delete the connection point positioning symbol. See step S8. - The location and angle of the connection point positioning symbol may be specified by the operator by graphically moving or rotating the connection point positioning symbol via a pointing device or numerically via keyboard entry. See step S10. To modify the connection point positioning symbol, for example to accommodate a desired horizontal orientation of the symbol to which
symbol 2 is connected viaconnector 18 a, the operator selects connectionpoint positioning symbol 10 a and rotates it to anew angle 4 b, as shown in FIG. 2E. The modified connection point positioning symbol is shown as 10 b in FIG. 2E. - In the preferred embodiment just described, the connection point positioning symbol is displayed at the connection point. However, the point at which the connection point positioning symbol is displayed and hence the point about which the connection point positioning symbol rotates need not coincide exactly with the point which defines the connection point location. The connection point positioning symbol may be displaced from the connection point. In this alternative embodiment of the invention, two related symbols are used which together define the connection point location and angle. As shown in FIG. 5A, the connection point positioning symbol is split into
location symbol 20 which defines the connection point location andangle symbol 30 which rotates aboutpoint 28 to defineangle 29. The angle connection point positioning symbol can be displayed to the operator anywhere, including in a separate window or control panel such as shown in FIG. 5B. The angle of the connection point can be displayed and adjusted using adial 32,slider 36, or other methods.Radio button 34, numerical 38 or other entry methods may also be used. - If, at step S3 of FIG. 1, the operator chose to create a new connection point rather than modify an existing one, the program branches to step S28 in FIG. 4—a flow chart of a method to create a new connection point positioning symbol at an operator specified location and angle. At step S28 in FIG. 4, the operator is prompted for a location for the new connection point. The operator inputs the connection point location 7 (see FIG. 2E) at step S30. At step S32, the appearance of the connection point positioning symbol is retrieved from the software application data. A new connection
point positioning symbol 11 is displayed at point 7 at a default angle (not shown). The operator is prompted at step S36 for an angle and orients connectionpoint positioning symbol 11 toangle 25 at step S38 by selecting the connection point positioning symbol and rotating it about point 7 until it is in the desired, preferably orthogonal, orientation. - The program allows the operator to continue to add or modify connection points until all connection points on the symbol have been satisfactorily processed. See step S12 of FIG. 1.
- If the alternative method of displaying a single connection point positioning symbol only during the editing of a particular connection point is employed, the location and angle of the displayed connection point positioning symbol associated with a connection point are stored as computer data and the connection point positioning symbol is hidden prior to the next editing operation.
- When the operator is satisfied, the symbol is closed for editing at step S14.
- At step S11 the newly created connection point location 7 and
angle 25 are determined from connectionpoint positioning symbol 11 and added to the computer definition ofsymbol 2. At step S13 theangle 4 b of connectionpoint positioning symbol 10 b for modifiedconnection point 9 is determined and added to the computer definition ofsymbol 2. At step S16, any connection point which had its connection point positioning symbol deleted by the operator at step S8 is removed from the computer definition of its respective symbol. At step S17 the connection point positioning symbols are hidden and the operator can continue to edit the intelligent diagram. - In FIG. 2F,
connector 18 b will now be joined tosymbol 2.Connector 18 b connects at thenew angle 4 b and a location determined by connectionpoint positioning symbol 10 b in FIG. 2E. New connector 26 (see FIG. 2F) will connect tosymbol 2 at connection point 7 atangle 25 of new connectionpoint positioning symbol 11 as shown in FIG. 2E.
Claims (21)
1. For use in a computer aided design system, a method of defining an intelligent symbol, comprising the steps of:
defining a computer-generated symbol comprising a graphical entity and a connection point having a position in relation to a reference point;
defining a connection point positioning symbol associated with the computer-generated symbol, the connection point positioning symbol having a location and an angle;
generating coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol, the coordinates describing the position of the connection point in relation to a reference point;
generating the angle of the connection point positioning symbol, the angle describing a direction of the connection point in relation to a reference angle;
building a symbol definition for the computer-generated symbol, the symbol definition comprising the coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol and the angle of the connection point positioning symbol.
2. The method of further comprising the step of generating a connector, the connector joining the computer-generated symbol at the angle and the location of the connection point positioning symbol.
claim 1
3. The method of further comprising the steps of:
claim 1
displaying the connection point positioning symbol;
editing the connection point positioning symbol; and
hiding the connection point positioning symbol.
4. The method of further comprising the steps of:
claim 1
displaying the connection point positioning symbol;
hiding the connection point positioning symbol after the step of generating coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol.
5. The method of wherein the reference angle is a reference angle within the computer-generated symbol.
claim 1
6. The method of further comprising displaying the connection point positioning symbol at the connection point.
claim 1
7. The method of further comprising the step of displaying the connection point positioning symbol at a postion displaced from the connection point.
claim 1
8. The method of further comprising the step of displaying the connection point positioning symbol in a graphic panel displaced from the connection point.
claim 1
9. The method of further comprising the steps of:
claim 1
editing the symbol definition for the computer-generated symbol by changing the coordinates of the location of the connection point positioning symbol and the angle of the connection point positioning symbol.
10. The method of wherein the step of editing comprises the step of displaying the connection point positioning symbol.
claim 9
11. The method of further comprising step of deleting the connection point by deleting the connection point positioning symbol.
claim 1
12. The method of further comprising the steps of:
claim 1
specifying a new connection point by defining a new connection point positioning symbol;
placing a new connector at a point on the computer-generated symbol, the new connector comprising a new position and a new angle determined by the new connection point positioning symbol.
13. The method of further comprising the steps of adding the new connection point positioning symbol to the symbol definition for the computer-generated symbol by adding the new position and the new angle to the symbol definition.
claim 12
14. The method of wherein the connection point positioning symbol comprises a first end and a second end, the second end comprising a dot.
claim 1
15. The method of wherein the connection point positioning symbol comprises a line and a dot.
claim 1
16. For use in a computer aided design system, a method of defining an intelligent symbol, comprising the steps of:
defining a computer-generated symbol comprising a graphical entity and a plurality of connection points, each of the connection points having a position in relation to a reference point;
for each of the plurality of connection points, defining a connection point positioning symbol associated with the computer-generated symbol, the connection point positioning symbol having a location and an angle, thereby defining a plurality of connection point positioning symbols;
for each one of the plurality of connection point positioning symbols, generating coordinates of the location of that one connection point positioning symbol, the coordinates describing the position of the connection point of that connection point positioning symbol in relation to a reference point;
for each one of the plurality of connection point positioning symbols, generating an angle describing a direction of that one connection point positioning symbol in relation to a reference angle;
building a symbol definition for the computer-generated symbol, the symbol definition comprising the coordinates of the locations of each of the plurality of connection point positioning symbols and the angles of the plurality of connection point positioning symbols.
17. The method of further comprising the step of displaying the plurality of connection point positioning symbols simultaneously.
claim 16
18. The method of further comprising the step of displaying the plurality of connection point positioning symbols one connection point positioning symbol at a time.
claim 16
19. For use in a computer aided design system, a method of editing an intelligent symbol, comprising the steps of:
defining a computer-generated symbol comprising a graphical entity and a connection point having a position in relation to a reference point;
defining a connection point positioning symbol associated with the computer-generated symbol, the connection point positioning symbol having a location and an angle, wherein the location and the angle are indicative of the location and angle of a connector connected to the connection point;
displaying the connection point positioning symbol;
editing the connection point positioning symbol by changing the location or the angle.
20. The method of further comprising the step of hiding the connection point positioning symbol following the step of editing.
claim 19
21. The method of further comprising the steps of generating a connector for connecting the computer-generated symbol to an entity, the connector joining the computer-generated symbol at the location and the angle of the connection point positioning symbol.
claim 19
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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CN108664144A (en) * | 2017-04-02 | 2018-10-16 | 田雪松 | Based on symbol pattern PwPosition calculating method |
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20030231219A1 (en) * | 2002-06-12 | 2003-12-18 | Smart Technologies Inc. | System and method for recognizing connector gestures |
US7330184B2 (en) | 2002-06-12 | 2008-02-12 | Smart Technologies Ulc | System and method for recognizing connector gestures |
US20070206010A1 (en) * | 2006-03-02 | 2007-09-06 | Fujitsu Limited | Computer readable recording medium recorded with graphics editing program, and graphics editing apparatus |
US9514554B2 (en) * | 2006-03-02 | 2016-12-06 | Fujitsu Limited | Computer readable recording medium recorded with graphics editing program, and graphics editing apparatus |
CN108664144A (en) * | 2017-04-02 | 2018-10-16 | 田雪松 | Based on symbol pattern PwPosition calculating method |
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