Systems, methods, and software for generating, customizing, and automatedly e-mailing a request for quotation for fabricating a computer-modeled structure from within a CAD program
In an exemplary embodiment, software made in accordance with the present invention generates a request for quote (RFQ) based on user-provided information, presents a user interface allowing a user to customize the RFQ, generates an e-mail including the RFQ, and sends the e-mail to one or more suppliers. Various corresponding and related systems, methods, and software are described.
1. A method of assisting a user in generating a request for quotation (RFQ) for fabrication of a structure represented in a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design (CAD) model from within a 3D CAD program, the method being executed in an RFQ e-mail system and comprising:
receiving, via the 3D CAD program and from a supplier database, information identifying one or more suppliers and information identifying a respective e-mail address associated with each of the one or more suppliers;
receiving, via a 3D CAD graphical user interface (GUI) displaying a 3D model of a structure, a selection from a user of an initiate-RFQ control as an interaction with the 3D CAD GUI;
in response to the selection, displaying to the user an RFQ-e-mail graphical user interface (GUI) and retrieving a design document associated with the 3D model of the structure, wherein the RFQ-e-mail GUI presents the user with a set of RFQ options, information from the design document, and a selectable list of the one or more suppliers;
receiving via the RFQ-e-mail GUI one or more selections of RFQ options within the set as interactions with the RFQ-e-mail GUI and one or more selections of suppliers from the selectable list as interactions with the RFQ e-mail GUI; and
generating, via the 3D CAD program, an RFQ e-mail as a function of the one or more user selections of RFQ options and the one or more selections of suppliers, wherein the RFQ e-mail is automatedly addressed to two or more respective email addresses each associated with a selected supplier.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said initiate-RFQ control is present within a 3D CAD GUI.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, as a function of the selection of the initiate-RFQ control, automatedly attaching a design document to the RFQ e-mail.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the design document contains data from the 3D CAD model.
5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, as a function of the selection of the initiate-RFQ control, automatedly attaching the 3D CAD model to the RFQ e-mail.
6. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
presenting, via the 3D CAD GUI, a prompt for attaching a design document;
receiving from a user a selection of an attach-design-document control as interaction with the 3D CAD GUI; and
in response to the selection of the attach-design-document control, attaching a design document to the RFQ e-mail.
7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the design document contains data from the 3D CAD model.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of RFQ options includes a supplier list and the method includes;
receiving from the user a selection of a supplier from the supplier list; and
automatedly sending the RFQ e-mail to the supplier.
9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the set of RFQ options includes manufacturing specification options, and the method includes receiving form the user a selection of at least one option from the manufacturing specification options.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the manufacturing specification options includes finishing options and the method includes receiving from the user a selection of at least one option from the finishing options.
11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the manufacturing specification options includes materials options and the method includes receiving from the user a selection of at least one option from the materials options.
12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the RFQ e-mail includes content for display in a content window in an e-mail viewer and the method includes creating at least a portion of the content by populating a template with the user-selected at least one option from the manufacturing specification options.
13. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more computer programs for execution by one or more processors, the one or more computer programs comprising instructions for:
receiving, via a three-dimensional (3D) computer-assisted design (CAD) program and from a supplier database, information identifying one or more suppliers and information identifying a respective e-mail address associated with each of the one or more suppliers;
receiving a selection of an initiate-request for quotation (RFQ) control as an interaction with a 3D CAD graphical user interface (GUI) displaying a 3D model of a structure:
in response to the selection, displaying to a user an RFQ-e-mail graphical user interface (GUI) and retrieving a design document associated with the 3D model of the structure, wherein the RFD-e-mail GUI presents the user with a set of RFQ options, information from the design document and a selectable list of the one or more suppliers;
receiving via the RFQ-e-mail GUI one or more selections of RFQ options within the set as interactions with the RFQ-e-mail GUI and one or more selections of suppliers from the selectable list as interactions with the RFQ e-mail GUI; and
generating an RFQ e-mail as a function of the one or more user selections of RFQ options and the one or more selections of suppliers, wherein the RFQ e-mail is generated from within the 3D CAD program and automatedly addressed to two or more respective e-mail addresses each associated with a selected supplier.
14. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 13 , wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, further cause:
automatedly attaching a design document to the RFQ e-mail;
wherein the automated attaching is a function of the selections of the initiate-RFQ control.
15. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, further cause:
automatedly attaching the 3D CAD model to the RFQ e-mail;
wherein the automated attaching is a function of the selection of the initiate-RFQ control.
16. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein the set of RFQ options includes a supplier list and the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, further cause:
receiving from the user a selection of a supplier from the supplier list; and
automatedly sending the RFQ e-mail to the supplier.
17. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 14 , wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, further cause:
receiving from the user a selection of an attach-design-document control; and
in response to the selection of the attach-design-document control, attaching a design document to the RFQ e-mail.