Highly automated application of digital finish material to 3D data
Methods and systems display a computer-aided design (CAD) model with finish material specificity. An example embodiment begins by defining a CAD model in memory where the CAD model represents a real world physical object and the CAD model comprises a plurality of parts. Next, the example embodiment obtains spreadsheet data that relates material finishes with item numbers, and then, reformats the obtained spreadsheet data into a structured database. In turn, indications associating the parts or model elements of the CAD model with the item numbers are received and the CAD model is automatically displayed with the parts having the material finishes based on the structured database and the received indications of item numbers associated with the parts of the CAD model.
1. A computer-implemented method of displaying a computer-aided design (CAD) model with material finishes in a CAD system, the method comprising:
defining, in memory of the CAD system, a three-dimensional (3D) CAD model representing a real-world physical object, the CAD model comprising a plurality of parts;
via one or more processors:
obtaining unstructured spreadsheet data in a plurality of data types storing information in cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of data types is an image data type and the unstructured spreadsheet data relates material finishes with item numbers;
reformatting the obtained unstructured spreadsheet data into a structured relational database by executing conditional programming that is a function of the plurality of data types of the unstructured spreadsheet data, the conditional programming dictating where to store the information from the cells of the unstructured spreadsheet data in pre-specified tables of the structured relational database based on the plurality of data types;
receiving indications, separate from the unstructured spreadsheet data, associating the parts of the CAD model with the item numbers; and
automatically displaying, in the CAD system, the CAD model with the parts having the material finishes based on the structured relational database and the received indications of item numbers associated with the parts of the CAD model.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically displaying the CAD model comprises:
identifying a given item number associated with a given part of the CAD model;
in the structured relational database, determining a respective material finish related to the given item number; and
displaying the given part of the CAD model with the determined material finish.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
automatically integrating material information from a third party source into the structured relational database.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtained unstructured spreadsheet data relates material finish to item numbers based upon a style package associated with the item numbers.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the unstructured spreadsheet data contains conditional logic that relates the material finishes with the item numbers.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
identifying an error in the structured relational database relating material finishes with item numbers.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein displaying the CAD model further comprises:
highlighting, in the displayed CAD model, a given part associated with the identified error.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:
prompting the user to correct the identified error.
9. A computer-aided design (CAD) system for displaying a model with material finishes in the CAD system, the CAD system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory with computer code instructions stored thereon, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, being configured to cause the system to:
define, in the memory of the CAD system, a three-dimensional (3D) CAD model representing a real-world physical object, the CAD model comprising a plurality of parts;
obtain unstructured spreadsheet data in a plurality of data types storing information in cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of data types is an image data type and the unstructured spreadsheet data relates material finishes with item numbers;
reformat the obtained unstructured spreadsheet data into a structured relational database by executing conditional programming that is a function of the plurality of data types of the unstructured spreadsheet data, the conditional programming dictating where to store the information from the cells of the unstructured spreadsheet data in pre-specified tables of the structured relational database based on the plurality of data types;
receive indications, separate from the unstructured spreadsheet data, associating the parts of the CAD model with the item numbers; and
automatically display, in the CAD system, the CAD model with the parts having the material finishes based on the structured relational database and the received indications of item numbers associated with the parts of the CAD model.
10. The CAD system of claim 9 where, in automatically displaying the CAD model, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the CAD system to:
identify a given item number associated with a given part of the CAD model;
in the structured relational database, determine a respective material finish related to the given item number; and
display the given part of the CAD model with the determined material finish.
11. The CAD system of claim 9 where the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the CAD system to:
automatically integrate material information from a third party source into the structured relational database.
12. The CAD system of claim 9 wherein the obtained unstructured spreadsheet data relates material finish to item numbers based upon a style package associated with the item numbers.
13. The CAD system of claim 9 wherein the unstructured spreadsheet data contains conditional logic that relates the material finishes with the item numbers.
14. The CAD system of claim 9 where the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the CAD system to:
identify an error in the structured relational database relating material finishes with item numbers.
15. The CAD system of claim 14 where, in displaying the CAD model, the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the CAD system to:
highlight, in the displayed CAD model, a part associated with the identified error.
16. The CAD system of claim 14 where the processor and the memory, with the computer code instructions, are further configured to cause the CAD system to:
prompt the user to correct the identified error.
17. A non-transitory computer program product for displaying a computer aided design (CAD) model with material finishes in a CAD system, the computer program product executed by a server in communication across a network with one or more clients and comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
define, in memory of the CAD system, a three-dimensional (3D) CAD model representing a real-world physical object, the CAD model comprising a plurality of parts;
obtain unstructured spreadsheet data in a plurality of data types storing information in cells, wherein at least one of the plurality of data types is an image data type and the unstructured spreadsheet data relates material finishes with item numbers;
reformat the obtained unstructured spreadsheet data into a structured relational database by executing conditional programming that is a function of the plurality of data types of the unstructured spreadsheet data, the conditional programming dictating where to store the information from the cells of the unstructured spreadsheet data in pre-specified tables of the structured relational database based on the plurality of data types;
receive indications, separate from the unstructured spreadsheet data, associating the parts of the CAD model with the item numbers; and
automatically display, in the CAD system, the CAD model with the parts having the material finishes based on the structured relational database and the received indications of item numbers associated with the parts of the CAD model.
18. The computer program product of claim 17 where, in automatically displaying the CAD model, the program instructions, when executed, cause the processor to:
identify a given item number associated with a given part of the CAD model;
in the structured relational database, determine a respective material finish related to the given item number; and
display the given part of the CAD model with the determined material finish.
19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the obtained unstructured spreadsheet data relates material finish to item numbers based upon a style package associated with the item numbers.
20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the unstructured spreadsheet data contains conditional logic that relates the material finishes with the item numbers.