Context sensitive simulation environment
A method, apparatus and computer readable medium for performing a computer simulation to predict the behavior or response of a physical object includes receiving at least one selection made by a user with respect to a context of the computer simulation to be performed. Based on the at least one selection, a list of tools, objects and properties is filtered to be displayed to the user with respect to the computer simulation to be performed, to display only those tools, object and properties that are pertinent to the context of the computer simulation to be performed. The filtered listed of tools, objects and properties with respect to the computer simulation is displayed, to obtain user input of which of the tools, objects and properties are to be utilized in the computer simulation.
1. A method of performing a computer simulation using a computer to predict a behavior or response of a physical object, comprising:
displaying a list of tools, objects, and properties;
monitoring a content of a model of the physical object and determining that the model excludes a geometric feature type;
receiving at least one selection made by a user with respect to use of an automatic model context for the computer simulation to be performed, wherein the automatic model context being ON causes automatically filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties based on the model excluding the geometric feature type instead of filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties based on user input corresponding to simulation context;
determining that the automatic model context is ON based on the at least one selection;
in response to determining that the automatic model context is ON, filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties by determining that a first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation is to be displayed to the user for possible selection by the user, based on the model excluding the geometric feature type, the first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation being a smaller group than the list of tools, objects, and properties;
displaying the first set of tools, objects and properties, for possible selection by the user when running the computer simulation; and
performing the computer simulation using the first set of tools.
2. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores computer program product which, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform the functions of:
displaying a list of tools, objects, and properties;
monitoring a content of a model of a physical object and determining that the model excludes a geometric feature type;
receiving at least one selection made by a user with respect to use of an automatic model context for a computer simulation to be performed, wherein the automatic model context being ON causes automatically filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties based on the model excluding the geometric feature type instead of filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties based on user input corresponding to simulation context;
determining that the automatic model context is ON based on the at least one selection;
in response to determining that the automatic model context is ON, filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties by determining that a first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation is to be displayed to the user for possible selection by the user, based on the model excluding the geometric feature type, the first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation being a smaller group than the list of tools, objects, and properties;
displaying the first set of tools, objects, and properties with respect to the computer simulation, for possible selection by the user when running the computer simulation; and
performing the computer simulation using the first set of tools.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein in response to determining that the automatic model context is ON, the list of tools, objects, and properties is filtered without further user input.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first set of tools, objects, and properties comprises a tool that splits a geometry surface or face.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining that the first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation is to be displayed to the user for the possible selection by the user, based on the model excluding the geometric feature type comprises:
hiding the tool that splits the geometry surface or face in response to determining that the model of the physical object lacks a surface or face, wherein the surface or face is the geometric feature type.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
monitoring the content of the model comprises determining that a surface or a face becomes available within the model, wherein the surface or the face has not been previously available within the model; and
displaying the tool that splits the geometry surface or face in response to determining that the surface or the face becomes available within the model.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining that the first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation is to be displayed to the user for the possible selection by the user, based on the model excluding the geometric feature type comprises displaying a tool that splits the geometry surface or face in response to determining that the surface or the face is available within the model.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometric feature type is a surface or a face within the model.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation is to be displayed to the user for possible selection by the user, based on the model excluding the geometric feature type comprises determining that the first set of tools, objects, and properties is capable of operating on a particular type of input data corresponding to another geometric feature type of the model, wherein the another geometric feature type is different from the geometric feature type.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein filtering the list of tools, objects, and properties further comprises determining that a second set of tools, objects, and properties associated with the computer simulation is to be excluded from being displayed to the user, wherein the second set of tools, objects, and properties corresponds to the geometric feature type.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second set of tools, objects, and properties is configured to operate on the geometric feature type based on a priori knowledge.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content of the model is being monitored while the user is working on the model.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the content of the model is being monitored automatically.