Dynamic selection of update methods

1. A computer-implemented method in a computer modeling environment having generative component features forming a model, the method comprising:

creating a generative component (GC) feature;

receiving user input modifying an aspect of the model that affects the GC feature;

dynamically determining an update method for the GC feature based on the user input, properties of the GC feature and input properties of available update methods to obtain a selected update method;

updating the GC feature based on the selected update method to obtain an updated GC feature, including determining a mandatory input property for the selected update method that does not have a value in the properties of the GC feature and providing a value of the property of the feature from a prior call to the selected update method, or to an other update method to which the property has previously served as an input, to be used for the mandatory property; and

storing the updated GC feature in a computer readable medium.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the update method further comprises:

determining if each of the properties of the GC feature have corresponding input properties in respective ones of the available update methods;

disqualifying any update methods whose input properties do not account for all of the properties of the feature to obtain qualified update methods;

determining a number of mandatory input properties that have corresponding properties in the feature;

determining a number of optional input properties that have corresponding properties in the feature;

combining the number of mandatory input properties, the number of optional input properties, and fitness factors to obtain a fitness number; and

selecting the update method with the highest fitness number as the selected update method.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the available update methods based on the GC feature.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining those mandatory input properties for the selected update method that do not have values in the properties of the GC feature; and

presenting a user interface to receive input providing the missing mandatory input properties.

5. A method, comprising:

identifying, with a computer system, a feature which requires updating based on a current transaction;

determining, with the computer system, properties of the feature set by the current transaction;

identifying, with the computer system, available update methods;

determining, with the computer system, input properties for the available update methods;

comparing, with the computer system, the properties of the feature to the input properties of respective ones of the available update methods;

disqualifying, with the computer system, any update methods whose input properties do not account for all of the properties of the feature to obtain qualified update methods;

identifying, with the computer system, fitness factors for the qualified update methods;

calculating, with the computer system, a fitness for the qualified update methods, including determining a mandatory input property for the selected update method that does not have a value in the properties of the GC feature; and providing a value of the property of the feature from a prior call to the selected update method, or to any other update method to which the property has previously served as an input, to be used for the mandatory property;

selecting, with the computer system, the update methods with the highest fitness to obtain a selected update method;

updating, with the computer system, the feature using the selected update method to obtain an updated feature; and

storing the updated feature.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein identifying the available update methods comprises identifying update methods available for at least one of the current transaction or the feature.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein comparing the properties comprises:

tracking and storing a number of matching mandatory input properties and a number of matching optional input properties.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein calculating the fitness factor comprises:

weighting the fitness factors and the number of mandatory input properties and the number of matching optional input properties to obtain weighted factors; and

performing a calculation on the weighted factors to obtain the fitness.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the fitness factors include at least one of whether the update method was a prior update method for the feature, whether the method is hidden from a user interface, or whether the update method is selectable.

10. The method of claim 7 , presenting the mandatory properties to the user for input of values.

11. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

if more than one update method has the same fitness factor, presenting the update methods to the user;

receiving user input choosing one of the update methods to obtain a chosen update method; and

using the chosen update method as the selected update method.

12. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

determining if the update method is selectable; and

if the update method is not selectable, ending the method for that update method.

13. A computer-implemented method in a computer modeling environment having generative component features forming a model, the method comprising:

creating a generative component (GC) feature;

receiving user input modifying an aspect of the model that affects the GC feature;

dynamically determining an update method for the GC feature based on the user input, properties of the GC feature and input properties of available update methods to obtain a selected update method;

updating the GC feature based on the selected update method to obtain an updated GC feature, wherein a mandatory input property of the available update methods are not in a call to the selected update method; and

storing the updated GC feature in a computer readable medium.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: determining a mandatory input property for the selected update method that does not have a value in the properties of the GC feature; and providing a value of the property of the feature from a prior call to the selected update method, or to any other update method to which the property has previously served as an input, to be used for the mandatory property.