JPH0668183A - Design support device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [Purpose] To facilitate the search of design data related to design changes and data change work. A data copying means 107 for copying design data of a design data storage means 101, and a data associating means 108 for setting a relation pointer between a copy source and a copy destination. Further, the data changing means 109 for changing the data, activated from the data changing means 109, traces the related pointer,
Retrieval means 110 for retrieving design data that needs to be changed, pointer storage means 111 for storing retrieval results, end notification means 112 for deleting a related pointer from the pointer storage means 111 when design change is completed, and pointer storage means 111. Design progress display means 113 for displaying the contents of [Effect] It becomes easy to associate design data with each other, and it becomes possible to grasp the influence range and the progress of work at the time of design change, and the efficiency at the time of joint design is improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a means for changing data stored in a computer, and more particularly, it supports a work for changing data stored in the same computer or another computer and design data related to this data. The present invention relates to a design support device, an information processing device, a design data copying method, a design change range search method, a work progress display method, and a data management support device that are suitable for carrying out.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a mechanical design, a design change is required due to a specification change due to a customer's request, a manufacturing problem is identified in the middle of design, or a prototype is produced but the expected performance cannot be achieved. There is. For example, when the manufacturing cost of a certain part is too high and the design change is to replace it with another cheaper part, the design data relating to this part includes an assembly drawing, a part drawing, and machining data (for example, an NC program for part machining or an assembly robot). Program), simulation (strength calculation, fluid calculation, mechanism analysis, etc.) input and result data, and design manual. It is necessary to update these design data in accordance with a design change, when new parts are used.

Conventionally, when searching for such related design data, a part number or a part name is generally used as a key. For example, a parts table is added to the assembly drawing, and the part numbers of the parts written in the assembly drawing are entered. By associating the part number and the part drawing in a one-to-one correspondence, when the assembly drawing is changed, the part drawing necessary for the change can be specified. Similarly, for machining data and simulation input data, the part number and part name are used as data file names, and the part numbers and various design data file names are managed as a correspondence table, and the correspondence table is searched and related. The design data to be specified was specified.

Such a conventional technique is described in the document "Addition of design database function to CIEDS" (Research on logical design and multimedia database, Kyushu University Faculty of Engineering, Department of Information Engineering, June 1990, pp37-pp66). There is. This publicly known example shows a method of creating a correspondence table between design data. The creation method is that when creating new design data, the correspondence table is created by selecting the relationship with the existing design data from a menu prepared in advance.

[0005]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

(1) Creating a parts table or causing a designer to associate design data during design interrupts the designer's thinking. Also, the association may be forgotten.

(2) When the assembly drawing and the parts drawing are associated with each other in the parts table, the designer needs to determine which part the figure on the assembly drawing represents and determine the part number. I input the number into the calculator and got the parts drawing. Therefore, it takes a lot of effort to search for related design data.

(3) It is necessary to list the design data affected by the design change, but it may be overlooked when manually searching.

(4) In order to know how much the work of design change is progressing, it is necessary to inquire the designer and estimate the remaining work from the work currently being performed. At this time, when the designer is in a remote place and is absent, it takes time and labor to make an inquiry.

(5) Even for a design program that can automatically obtain an answer when data is given, it takes a labor to re-input the input data changed by the design change and re-execute. .

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate a search between related data, prevent oversight, and change related data, an information processing apparatus, a design data copying method, and a design change. An object is to provide a range search method, a work progress display method, and a data management support device.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a design support apparatus according to the present invention has a design data storing means for storing design data and a design data storing means for storing the design data in another storage area of the design data storing means. The data copying means for copying and the respective addresses of the design data of the copy source and the design data of the copy destination are input from the data copying means, and the copy is associated with at least one of the design data of the copy destination and the design data of the copy source. The configuration is provided with a data associating unit for adding the address of the design data of the destination or the copy source, and an input control unit for activating the data copying unit.

Design data storage means for storing the design data, data copying means for copying the design data to another storage area of the design data storage means, design data for the copy source and design data for the copy destination from the data copying means. And a data associating means for adding a related pointer indicating the address of the copy destination design data or the copy source design data which is related to at least one of the copy destination design data and the copy source design data. An input control means for activating the copying means, a data changing means which is activated by the input control means and changes the design data of the design data storage means, and a related pointer of the changed design data is inputted from the data changing means and the related pointer is traced and copied. It may be configured to include a search unit that searches for unchanged design data at the destination or the copy source.

Further, the pointer storage means connected to the search means for storing the related pointer of the unchanged design data searched by the search means and the related pointer for the changed design data activated by the input control means are deleted from the pointer storage means. And a work progress display means for displaying the related pointer of the unmodified design data stored in the pointer storage means and activated by the input control means.

Further, when the end notification means is activated, the address of the first design data is input from the pointer storage means, the related pointer of the first design data is referred to, and the second design data pointed to by the related pointer is stored. A configuration including automatic reflection means for extracting an address, writing the second design data in the first design data to update the first design data, and passing the updated first design data to a design program for execution But it's okay.

The data associating means is provided with a correspondence table storing means for storing a correspondence table between the design data of the copy source and the design data of the copy destination obtained by copying the design data of the copy source,
The configuration may be such that the related pointer of the design data of the copy source and the related pointer of the design data of the copy destination are added to the correspondence table.

Further, in the information processing apparatus, a storage means for storing the data set and at least one record stored in the data set, a copying means for copying the data set, and a data source of the copy source which is activated by the copying means. And an address of the data set of the copy destination, and an associated pointer adding means for writing an associated pointer indicating the address of the data set of the copy source in a specific area of the data set of the copy destination, and a record in the specified data set. The record existence determination means for determining whether or not exists, and when the record existence determination means changes the record, the inquiry record is updated if the inquiry record exists, and if the record does not exist, the record generated by the record generation means is set. Record change means to store and receive and store the data set name and record name The related pointer search means for searching the data set having the designated record name by tracing the related pointers of the data sets stored in the columns, and the record presence / absence judgment means for displaying the data set, the inquiry record asking whether the record exists or not. If the record exists, it sends the record to the output device, and if the record does not exist, it searches the data set having the record name designated by the related pointer search means, retrieves the record and sends it to the output device. The configuration.

Further, in the method of copying the design data,
A data storing step of storing the design data in the design data storing means, a data copying step of copying the design data to another storage area of the design data storing means, an address of the design data of the copy source specified in the data copying step, and A data associating step of adding an associated pointer indicating an address of design data related to each other to at least one of the design data of the copy destination and the design data of the copy source using the address of the design data of the copy destination And

In the design change range search method,
The data storage step of storing the design data in the design data storage means, the data copying step of copying the design data, and the address of the copy destination design data copied using the address of the copy source design data specified in the data copying step A data associating step to be added to the copy source design data, a data changing step to change the design data on the design data storage means, and an address of the copy destination design data are added to the design data changed by the data changing step. If the address of the design data of the copy destination is stored in the pointer storage means when the design data of the copy destination is added, the pointer storage step of ending the process when the address of the design data of the copy destination is not added to the changed design data; Of the pointer storage step again as the changed design data. A step, and become more configuration and display step of displaying the contents of the design data indicating the contents or the contents of the pointer storage means.

Further, in the work progress display method using the design change range retrieval method, a pointer saving step of saving the contents of the pointer storage means to another storage means, and a related pointer of the design data for which the change has been completed are stored in the pointer storage means. The configuration is composed of an end notification step of deleting, and a display step of comparing and displaying the contents of the pointer storage means saved in the pointer saving step and the current contents of the pointer storage means.

Further, in the data management support apparatus, a data storage means for storing data, a data copying means for copying the data to another storage area of the data storage means, and a data source and a copy destination from the data copying means. Data associating means for inputting the respective addresses of the data and adding the address of the copy destination data or the copy source data related to at least one of the copy destination data and the copy source data, and the data copying means are activated. An input control means is provided.

Data storing means for storing the data, data copying means for copying the data to another storage area of the data storing means, and respective addresses of the copy source data and the copy destination data from the data copying means Data associating means for adding a related pointer indicating the address of the copy destination or copy source data, which is related to at least one of the input copy destination data and copy source data, and input control means for activating the data copying means. And a data changing unit which is activated by the input control unit to change the data in the data storage unit, and a related pointer of the changed data is input from the data changing unit and the related pointer is traced to search for unmodified data at the copy destination or copy source. It may be configured to include a search means for performing.

Further, a pointer storage means connected to the search means for storing the related pointer of the unchanged data searched by the search means, and an end notification for deleting the related pointer of the changed data activated by the input control means from the pointer storage means. It may be configured to include means and work progress display means that is activated by the input control means and displays the related pointer of the unmodified data stored in the pointer storage means.

Further, when activated by the end notifying means, the address of the first data is inputted from the pointer storing means, the related pointer of the first data is referred to, and the address of the second data pointed to by the related pointer is taken out. , Second
The data may be written in the first data to update the first data, and the updated first data may be passed to the management program and executed by the automatic reflection means.

Then, the data associating means is provided with a correspondence table storing means for storing a correspondence table of the copy source data and the copy destination design data obtained by copying the copy source data, and the correspondence table relates to the copy source data. The configuration may be such that a pointer and an associated pointer of the copy destination data are added.

[0026]

According to the present invention, the design data storage means stores the design data and an associated pointer for associating the design data, and the data copying means copies the design data on the design data storage means to facilitate similar design data. To be able to create. The data associating means is activated by receiving the related pointer of the design data of the copy source and the related pointer of the design data of the copy destination from the input control means via the data copying means, and designing the copy destination in the design data of the copy source. A related pointer indicating data is added. Each time the design data is copied, a related pointer is added between the design data of the copy source and the design data of the copy destination, which facilitates the association between similar design data and solves the first problem. To be done.

The data changing means refines or changes the contents of the design data storing means, and the searching means receives the related pointer of the design data to be changed from the data changing means and traces the related pointer added by the data associating means. , Present the design data to the designer. Therefore, the design data affected by the change is automatically searched, and the effort of the designer in searching the related design data is reduced. This solves the second and third problems.

[0028] The unmodified design data is recorded by the pointer storage means for storing the related pointer of the design data of the copy destination which needs the change searched by the searching means, and the design data can be accessed by following the related pointer. The related pointer of the design data that has been changed is deleted from the pointer storage means by the data change end notifying means that deletes the related pointer of the design data of the copy destination changed according to the designer's instruction from the pointer storage means. Only the relevant pointer of the data remains. The work progress display means for displaying the related pointers in the pointer storage means according to the designer's instruction presents the designer with the unmodified design data remaining at present. This solves the fourth problem.

The automatic reflection means traces the pointer in the pointer storage means and the related pointer that associates the design data of the copy source and the design data of the copy destination stored in the design data storage means with each other, and the design data of the copy destination is obtained. It is updated with the value of the design data of the copy source and the design program is restarted. Therefore, by activating the automatic reflection means after changing the design data, the changed design data is reflected in the input of the design program, and the calculation result using the updated input data is automatically obtained.
This solves the fifth problem.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A functional configuration of a computer showing a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the design data storage unit 101 is a memory that stores design data including graphic data and attribute data (characters, numerical information). In the present embodiment, the design data storage means 101 is formed by the storage area of the computer,
It may be formed by a secondary storage device such as a magnetic disk. The display control means 102 is means for converting the graphic data and the attribute data stored in the design data storage means 101 into a graphic and a character string and displaying them on the CRT 103. Input control means 106 connected to input means such as a keyboard 104 and a mouse 105
Reads commands from the keyboard 104 and the mouse 105, activates the data copying unit 107 and the data changing unit 109, and passes necessary parameters to the data copying unit 107 and the data changing unit 109. The data copying means 107 is the input control means 10
A command is received from 6 and the design data in the design data storage means 101 is copied to another storage area of the design data storage means 101. The data associating unit 108 receives the pointer (address) of the design data of the copy source and the pointer of the design data of the copy destination from the data copying unit 107, and writes the pointer of the design data of the copy destination to the design data of the copy source. The pointer of the design data of the copy destination added to the design data of the copy source is called the related pointer. The data changing means 109 receives a command from the input control means 106, and receives the design data storage means 101.
The contents of the design data stored in are rewritten. Search method
110 receives the pointer of the design data to be changed from the data changing unit 109, accesses the design data stored in the design data storage unit 101, and extracts the related pointer of the design data to be changed. When the related pointer is added to the design data designated by the related pointer, the design data is traced until there are no more related pointers. The retrieval result is stored in the unchanged data pointer storage means (pointer storage means) 111. The data change end notification means 112 receives the related pointer of the design data for which the change is completed from the input control means 106, and the unchanged data pointer storage means 111.
Delete the related pointer of the design data that has been changed from. The work progress display means 113 receives the related pointer of the design data from the input control means 106, searches the unchanged data pointer storage means 111, sends the related pointer of the unchanged design data to the display control means 102, and displays it on the CRT 103. .

Generally, in the design stage, when the assembly drawing 201 is created as shown in FIG.
The component diagram 204 described in 201 is copied to the component drawing 202, and further detailed portions are added to complete the component drawing 203. Assembly drawing 201 is used for studying the entire design, and part drawing 2 is used for machining parts.
Use 03. A model 208 for mechanical analysis is created by copying information such as the length between joints, the weight, and the moment of inertia of area from the assembly drawing 201. In addition, a model for structural analysis may be created by further copying the figure 207 of the part drawing 203 created by copying the assembly drawing 201 like the part analysis model 209. From the assembly drawing 201, component drawings 210 and 211 are created for each component, and design data is copied to complete the component drawings 212 and 213.

The operation of the embodiment will be described using an application example of the present invention to mechanical design. Part diagram 2 of assembly drawing 201 shown in FIG.
When 04 is copied to the parts drawing 202, the input control means 106 activates the data copying means 107 and inputs necessary parameters to the data copying means 107. FIG. 3 shows data copying means 1
7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of 07 and a data associating unit 108 called by the data copying unit 107. Further, FIG. 4 shows the structure of the design data stored in the design data storage means 101. In step 301,
The address of the design data stored in the design data storage means 101 of the graphic data of the copy source is received from the input control means 106. Specifically, when the graphic data displayed on the CRT 103 is designated using the mouse 105, the attribute added to the graphic data when the design data is displayed is referred to, and the address of the drawing to which the graphic data belongs and the address of the design data. And specify. For example, when the part graphic 204 in the assembly drawing 201 is designated, the address of the design data 401 of the assembly drawing and the design data 402 of the part 1 stored in the design data storage means 101.
Is specified. In step 302, input control means 1
Receives the copy destination position from 06. For example, by pointing a point on the component drawing 202 with the mouse 105, the address of the design data 404 of the component drawing 1 can be specified. Step 303 Step
The design data 401 and 402 specified in 301 are copied to the storage area of the design data storage means 101 specified in step 302. For example, the design data 402 of the part 1 in the assembly drawing is copied to another storage area to create detailed design data 405. Then, the display control means 102 displays the graphic 206 of the component drawing 202 on the CRT 103. In step 304, the address of the design data of the copy destination is stored in a specific area of the design data of the copy source, for example, a position obtained by adding an offset to the address of the design data of the copy source. In this way, the related pointer indicating the address of the design data of the copy destination is added to the design data of the copy source. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the start address of the detailed design data 405 of the copy destination part drawing 1 is set in the last memory area 403 of the copy source design data 402. In the present embodiment, the case of copying the graphic data is shown, but it can be applied to attribute data such as characters and numerical information. Further, in this embodiment, the address of the storage device is used to specify the design data of the copy source and the copy destination, but a label such as a file name or a record identifier may be used.

Although FIG. 4 shows an example in which the related pointer is added to the storage area of the design data, as shown in FIG. 5, a correspondence table in a table format in which the copy source and the copy destination are associated with each other may be created. . It is assumed that a correspondence table storage means (not shown) is attached to the data associating means and the data associating means adds a relation pointer to the correspondence table. In FIG. 5, the assembly drawing 1 is the copy source.
Reference numeral 501 indicates that the component drawing 1 is the copy destination 502.

Next, the process at the time of design change will be described. For example, consider the case where the shapes of the parts 602 and 603 must be changed by changing the position of the joint portion 601 of the assembly drawing 1 as shown in FIG. These changes are made by calling the data changing means 109. FIG. 7 shows a processing flow of the data changing means 109. Step 7
At 01, a change command is received from the input control means 106. Step 7
02 calls the search means 110. FIG. 8 shows a processing flow of the search means 110. In step 801, the pointer of the design data to be changed is searched for the related pointer added to the design data. In the modification example shown in FIG. 6, since the parts 1 and 2 are changed, the related pointer 403 of the part 1, the related pointer 406 of the part 2 and the assembly drawing added in the design data 401 of the assembly drawing shown in FIG. The entire related pointer 407 is retrieved. Since there is a related pointer, the procedure 802 becomes YES and the procedure proceeds to the procedure 803. In step 803, the related pointer retrieved is used as the unmodified data pointer storage means 11
1 is stored in the format shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 9, an identifier 901 that identifies a design change, a pointer 401 of the changed design data, and a value 403 of the related pointer searched previously,
406 and 407 are stored. Next, the related pointer of the design data pointed to by the related pointer searched in step 804 is further searched. This can be realized by recursively calling the procedure of FIG. In the case of the related pointer 403, the related data points to the design data 404 of the parts diagram 1 and the analysis model 409.
Since 408 is attached, it is added to the storage area of the design data of the assembly drawing 1 in the unchanged data pointer storage means 111 as shown in FIG.

In this state, the work progress display means 11 shown in FIG.
By calling 3, you can see the list of design data that needs to be changed due to the previous design change. The procedure is shown in FIG. First, in step 1001, the input control means 106 inputs an ID or change data name for specifying change data.
In step 1002, the unchanged data pointer storage means 111 is searched using the input of step 1001 as a key. If there is unmodified data, the contents are displayed by the procedure 1003 through the display control means 102 as shown in FIG. If there is no unchanged data, the display shown in FIG. 16 is displayed in step 1004. The work progress display method includes a pointer saving step of saving the contents of the unchanged data pointer storage means to another storage means, and an end notification step of deleting the related pointer of the design data that has been changed from the unchanged data pointer storage means. And a display step for comparing and displaying the contents of the unchanged data pointer storage means saved in the pointer saving step with the current contents of the unchanged data pointer storage means.

By looking at this, the designer can easily and automatically know the design data that needs to be corrected. And FIG.
Change the parts drawing etc. as shown in. For example, the contents of the parts 1201 and 1203 are changed to parts 1202 and 1204, respectively. When the change is completed, the end notification means 112
Call. FIG. 13 shows a processing flow of the end notifying means. First, the design data name of which the change is completed is received from the input control means. This may automatically capture the name of the design data you are working on when executing the command, or it may be entered using the keyboard or mouse. Next, the unchanged data pointer storage means is searched, and the design data name is deleted from the unchanged data list. From the state shown in FIG.
When the work of changing the parts drawing 2 is completed, as shown in FIG.
403 and 406 are deleted. At this time, when the work progress display means 113 is called, the display shown in FIG. 15 is obtained, and it is understood that the remaining analysis model and mechanism model may be changed. When the work progress display means 113 is called after changing the mechanism model and the analysis model, it can be seen that the design changing work is completed as shown in FIG.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the first embodiment, the association between the graphic data has been described, but the invention can be applied to any data other than the graphic data. FIG. 17 shows an example of the dimension data on the assembly drawing and the input data of the analysis program. An assembly drawing 1701 shown in FIG. 17 is a drawing in which the dimensions between joints are written in the assembly drawing 201 shown in FIG. The analysis program is a program for calculating the position of the part when one end of the link is moved. An input window 1702 of the analysis program and a window 1703 that graphically displays the result of the analysis are shown.

Conventionally, the parameters required for inputting the analysis program have been read from the assembly drawing and input into a predetermined input field on the analysis program input screen using a keyboard or the like. In another conventional technique, a mouse is used to copy the numerical values of dimensions. Now, when the designer changes the assembly drawing and tries to output the graph of the analysis result again,
I had to enter the number again on the input screen.

By using the data associating means 108 shown in FIG. 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to save the labor of re-inputting the data as in the conventional case and automatically perform the necessary work associated with the design change. That is, the dimension data 1704 of the assembly drawing 1701 and the input parameter 1705 of the analysis program are associated with each other as follows. First, the data copying means 107 is started, and the dimension data 1 is used as the design data of the copy source.
704 is designated by the mouse, and then design data of the copy destination is designated and the input parameter 1705 of the input window 1702 is designated. At this time, the value of the dimension data 1704 is copied to the input parameter 1705, and the data associating means 108 is activated to add a related pointer to the dimension data 1704 and the input parameter 1705. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a data structure in which the related pointer Ln to the input parameter of the analysis program is added to the dimension data Dn. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the data structure in which the related pointer Pn to the dimension data is added to the input parameter Mn of the analysis program. In this way, the input parameters and analysis program necessary for re-execution can be specified even if the dimensions are changed.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram in which an automatic reflection means 114 for automatically performing a design change work is added to the embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 20, among the components shown in FIG. 1, means not directly related to the automatic reflection means 114 are omitted. Figure 1
As described above, when the design data stored in the design data storage means 101 is changed, the address of the design data and the design pointer that has to be changed in accordance with the changed design data by tracing the related pointer of the design data The address of the data is stored in the unchanged data pointer storage means 111. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the address of the dimension data 1704 directly changed by the designer and the address of the input parameter 1705 of the analysis program are stored. The end notifying means 112 receives the address of the design data after the change from the input control means 106, deletes the address of the design data after the change from the unchanged data pointer storage means 111, and then issues a start command to the automatic reflection means 114. To send. FIG. 17
In the example shown in (1), the address of the dimension data 1704 changed by the designer is deleted from the unchanged data pointer storage means, and only the input parameter 1705 of the analysis program remains. The automatic reflection unit 114 refers to the unchanged data pointer storage unit 111 and extracts the input parameter of the analysis program 115. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the address of the input parameter 1705 of the analysis program is extracted. Then, the automatic reflection means 114 refers to the input parameter 1705 stored in the design data storage means 101 from the address of the input parameter 1705, traces the related pointer, and calculates the dimension data.
1704 can be identified. Further automatic reflection means 114
By copying the dimension data 1704 to the input parameter 1705, the input parameter of the analysis program becomes the latest data reflecting the change of the designer. Finally, the automatic reflection means 114 deletes the related pointer of the input parameter 1705 from the unchanged data pointer storage means 111,
Start 115. The analysis program 115 refers to the input parameter 1705 stored in the design data storage means 101 and writes the result in the design data storage means 101. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the analysis program is a structure analysis program.
The structural analysis program refers to the input parameters 1705 stored in the design data storage means 101 and writes the analysis result 1703 in the design data storage means 101. In the present embodiment, the program started by the automatic reflection means 114 is an analysis program, but any program such as a design calculation program or a cost calculation program may be used. Further, with the same configuration, it is possible to send a start instruction to a plurality of programs.

FIG. 21 shows a procedure for automatically re-executing the analysis program by using the related pointer on the unchanged data pointer storage means. First, in step 2001, one input pointer of the analysis program to be activated can be specified by taking out one related pointer from the unchanged data pointer storage means. In step 2002, by tracing the related pointer of the specified input data and updating to the latest parameter value,
Changes in the assembly drawing are reflected in the input parameters. Next, in step 2003, the related pointer that points to the input parameter already updated in step 2002 is deleted from the unchanged data pointer storage means 111. This makes it possible to prevent the same input parameter from being repeatedly input to the analysis program. Analysis is performed using the input parameters updated in step 2004. In step 2005, if the related pointer still remains in the unchanged data pointer storage means 111, it is necessary to update the input parameter of another analysis program and restart, so the procedure returns to step 2001. If not, it means that all the analysis programs have been restarted, so it ends.

By describing the dimension data of the assembly drawing 1701 shown in FIG. 17 by a parametric figure whose shape can be changed, for example, L1, L2, L3, L4 can be displayed on the input screen while watching the output screen of the analysis program. 20. If the analysis result desired by the designer is obtained and the termination canceling means 112 shown in FIG. 20 is started, the appropriate dimension data obtained as a result of the analysis is reflected in the assembly drawing, which the designer desires. Assembly drawings of machines with characteristics are automatically created.

In this embodiment, the related pointer of the design data of the copy destination is added to the design data of the copy source, but as shown in FIG. 22, the design data of the copy source (new product data) 221 (Old product data) 222 related pointer 2
23 may be added. By doing so, it becomes easy to refer to the related design data among a plurality of databases. For example, the design data 222 of the copy source is the design data of the old product, and the design data 221 of the copy destination is the design data of the new product. In the design department, the design data of the old product is often diverted, and the new product is designed by changing the design data to meet the new standard. Especially in the design of series products and easy-order products, most design data can be used. By using the data association means of the present invention, the design data of the new product can be
You can immediately see which design data you have copied so far. On the other hand, in the factory, the design data and the design data 222 for the same product in the design department and the production department, for example, the machining data for NC processing machine 2
24 and the design database 226 and production information database 225
In many cases, the related pointer to the design data of the product corresponding to the processed data 224 and the drawing name are attached. This is because the information required by the design department and the information required by the production department are different, and it is easier to manage if the information required only by each department is logically separated. The design data of the new product is passed to the production department, and when designing the new product when creating the processing information of this design data, the design data 222 of the old product which is the original is traced by following the related pointer 223. can do. If you know the design data 222 of the old product, the production information database 225
Can be searched and the processing data 224 of the old product can be specified. The processing data creator of the production department compares the design data 222 of the old product with the design data 221 of the new product, changes the processing data 224 of the old product, and creates the processing data of the new product. As a result, the labor for creating the processed data can be greatly reduced. Moreover, the independence of information is maintained between the design department and the production department.

23 to 27 show a third embodiment. Figure 2
Reference numeral 3 indicates that a plurality of records 2123 to 2125 are stored in the memory 2101 in the data set 2102. In this example, the dataset represents triangle A and record 21
23 to 2125 represent the lengths a, b, and c of the three sides, respectively. Display 2104 is displayed on the CRT by referring to the contents of this data set. In FIG. 24, the data set 2102 of the copy source of the triangle A is copied to the data set 210 of the copy destination of the triangle B.
I have just created 5. Since the length of the three sides of the triangle B is the same as that of the triangle A, only the related pointer 2106 of the data set 2102 is stored as the data set of the triangle B. When the length of the three sides is required when displaying the triangle B, the related pointer is traced to refer to the record of the triangle A. In this way, the display 2107 is displayed with reference to the side length. Since the triangle B is associated with the triangle A by the related pointer, when the length of the triangle A is changed, the length of the side of the triangle B is also changed with reference to the related pointer.

In the state of FIG. 24, the length of side a of triangle B is set to 1
FIG. 25 shows the case where the number is changed to 2. When changing the records of the copy destination data set 2105 created by copying, only the records different from the copy source are saved. In FIG. 25, the triangle A and the triangle B differ by the length of the side a, and therefore, the data set 2105 of the triangle B stores a record 2108 indicating the length of the side a in addition to the related pointer. When displaying the triangle B, the side a uses the value of the record 2108 of the triangle B,
The values of the unchanged sides b and c of the copy source triangle A refer to the values of the records 2124 and 2125 in the data set A. In this way, the lengths of the three sides of the triangle B are determined and can be displayed as a display 2110.

FIG. 26 shows the case where the side b of the copy source triangle A is changed to the value 10 of the record 2111. Since the side b of the copy destination triangle B is not changed, there is no corresponding record in the data set 2105. Therefore, the length of the side b follows the related pointer 2106 and becomes the value 10 of the code 2111. In this way, the change of the copy source is propagated to the copy destination by tracing the relation pointer. As a result, display 2112 of triangle A and triangle B
Display 2113 is updated.

FIG. 27 shows the case where the side a of the copy source triangle A is changed to the value 6 in the record 2114. Copy destination triangle B
Then, as shown in FIG. 25, since the side a has already been changed and the length 2108 of the side a unique to the triangle B which is the copy destination is stored, the change of the record of the copy source is not propagated to the copy destination.
Therefore, when displaying the triangle A, the length of the side a is 6 which is the changed record value, and the length of the side b is 10,
The length of the side c is 6 and the display 2115 is displayed.
When displaying the triangle B, the length of the side a is 12 which is a value unique to the triangle B. Since the length of side b is not stored in the data set 2105 of triangle B, the associated pointer 2106 is traced and the length 10 of side b of triangle A is used. For the length of the side c, the related pointer is similarly traced, and the length 6 of the side c of the triangle A is used. As a result, the display 2116 of the triangle B has the same shape as in FIG.

The relation between the design data of the copy source and the design data of the copy destination is obtained by the copying means, the reference means and the changing procedure shown in FIGS. 28 to 30, for example.
FIG. 28 shows the copying procedure. First, in step 2201, the designer asks for the data set to be the copy source. Next, in step 2202, the copy source data set specified in step 2202 is copied to create a copy destination data set, and in step 2203, the copy destination data set stores the associated pointer of the copy source data set. In this way, the data set 2105 of triangle B shown in FIG. 24 is created from the data set 2102 of triangle A shown in FIG. 23, and the related pointer 2106 is stored. FIG. 29 is a flowchart of the reference procedure. First, in step 2301, a user such as a designer inputs a required data set name and record name from a keyboard or a program argument. Next, in step 2302, the position of the data set on the storage device is specified from the data set name. If the input record name is found in the data set, the value of the record is extracted in step 2303. If the record name input in step 2304 is not found, the related pointer is traced. If it reaches a data set that does not have an associated pointer, it is an error.
If there is a related pointer, in step 2305, the data set pointed to by the related pointer is taken out and it is checked whether or not there is a record designated again. By these operations, FIG.
Since the lengths a, b, and c of the three sides of triangle A and triangle B can be referred to in each state shown in 27, CR
Can be displayed on T. Change the record in Figure 30.
It can be realized by the change procedure shown in. First, in step 2401, a data set name, a record name and a new record are received as an argument from an input control means such as a keyboard or a host program. In step 2402, the position of the data set on the design data storage means is specified from the data set name. If a record already exists in that dataset, it will be replaced with a new record in step 2403. If there are no records in the data set, a new record is created and stored according to step 2404.

From the above description, the information processing apparatus to which the third embodiment is applied is, as shown in FIG. 31, a storage unit 3101 for storing a data set and at least one record stored in the data set, and a data unit. The copying means 3107 for copying the set, and the address of the copying source data set and the copying destination data set which are activated by the copying means 3107 and receive the copying source data set address in a specific area of the copying destination data set. Related pointer adding means 3108 for writing a related pointer indicating the presence of a record, a record presence / absence determining means 3111 for determining whether or not a record exists in the specified data set, and an inquiry record for the record presence / absence determining means 3111 when changing a record. Update if exists,
If the record is absent, the record changing means 3114 for setting the record generated by the record generating means, the data set name and the record name, and the associated pointer of the data set stored in the storage means are traced, and the designated record name Related pointer search means 3110 for searching a data set having a record, and when the data set is displayed, a record presence / absence determination means 3111 inquires about the presence or absence of a record. If there is a record, the record is sent to the output device 3116, and the record is absent. If there is any, it is constituted by a data set display means 3102 which retrieves the data set having the record name designated by the related pointer retrieval means 3110, retrieves the record and sends it to the output device 3116.

In the third embodiment, a triangular data set consisting of three real numbers has been described as an example, but this embodiment can be applied to a data set in which arbitrary data are arbitrarily combined. Although the example in which the reference result of the record is displayed as a graphic is shown, the data set may be displayed in a table format or a card format, or may be displayed in different window groups in the multi-window display system.

The present invention is effective when incorporated in a collaborative design support system that supports a process in which a plurality of designers jointly design one design target. For example, it can be shown among designers which design changes affect which parts of other designers. In addition, the design manager can easily grasp the progress of new design work and design change work. When incorporated in the collaborative design support system, a plurality of modifying means, copying means, and
Since the associating unit, the searching unit, the end notifying unit, and the progress display unit access, by adding a unit for exclusively controlling writing of each unit, a plurality of workstations connected by a communication unit such as a network can be connected to a server workstation. A collaborative design environment for accessing design data stored in can be provided.

The present invention has the following effects.

(1) Since the related pointer is added when the copy source design data is copied to the copy destination, forgetting to attach the related pointer can be prevented.

(2) By tracing the related pointers of the changed design data, it is possible to specify the influence range at the time of design change.

(3) Since the related pointers of the unchanged data are stored, it is possible to easily grasp how much the data needs to be changed at the time of design change and manage the progress of the work.

(4) Since the input parameters of the program can be associated with each other by the associated pointer and the program can be automatically restarted, the change data can be automatically reflected.

(5) When the data of the copy source and the data of the copy destination are related by the related pointer and only the data different from the copy source is saved in the copy destination, the storage area can be saved and the data unique to the copy destination can be saved. This is possible, or it is possible to batch change the data that is common to the copy source.

(6) When a plurality of designers design one design target, it is easy to manage the progress of work and specify the range of influence at the time of design change. Therefore, it is possible to design in parallel. The ratio of each possible design element increases, and the design efficiency improves.

[0059]

According to the present invention, since the related pointer is added and stored when the data of the copy source is copied to the copy destination, the range of influence when the data is changed by tracing the related pointer is affected. Can identify and manage the progress of work. Then, the related pointers associate the input parameters of the program with each other, and the program is automatically restarted, so that the data change is automatically reflected, and the ratio of each design element that can perform the design in parallel increases. It has the effect of improving efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of creating design data of a parts drawing, an assembly drawing, and an analysis model according to the present invention.

3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a data copying unit and a data associating unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a design data structure on a design data storage means of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the data structure of the related pointer of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of design change.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the data changing means of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of a search means of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a data structure on the unmodified data pointer storage means of FIG. 1. FIG.

10 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the work progress display means of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a display example of work progress by the work progress display means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a modified example of the component drawing of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of an end notifying unit in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a data structure on an unmodified data pointer storage unit after modification of a component drawing of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a work progress display after the component drawing of the present invention is changed.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a work progress display when all changes of the present invention are completed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when copying the dimensions of the assembly drawing and the input parameters of the analysis program according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a data structure of dimensions of an assembly drawing of the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a data structure of input parameters of the analysis program of the second embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a configuration diagram showing an automatic reflection unit of a second embodiment.

21 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the automatic reflection means in FIG. 20. FIG.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating a related pointer added to the copy destination data of the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a data set which is a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating a related pointer of a data set according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing changes in records of the data set according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing changes in records of the data set according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing changes in records of the data set according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the flow of a copying process when the present invention is applied to an arbitrary data structure composed of a data set and a record.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the flow of reference processing when the present invention is applied to an arbitrary data structure including a data set and a record.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the flow of a modification process when the present invention is applied to an arbitrary data structure composed of a data set and a record.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of an information processing apparatus to which the third embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Design data storage means 102 Display control means 103 CRT 104 Keyboard 105 Mouse 106 Input control means 107 Data copying means 108 Data associating means 109 Data changing means 110 Searching means 111 Unchanged pointer storing means 112 End notifying means 113 Work progress displaying means 114 Automatic reflection means

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. Design data storage means for storing design data, data copying means for copying the design data to another storage area of the design data storage means, and design data and a copy source of the copy from the data copying means. A data association in which the respective addresses of the design data of the destination are input and the addresses of the design data of the copy destination and the design data of the copy source that are associated with each other are added to at least one of the design data of the copy destination and the design data of the copy source. A design support apparatus comprising: means and an input control means for activating the data copying means. 2. Design data storage means for storing design data, data copying means for copying the design data to another storage area of the design data storage means, and design data and a copy source of the copy from the data copying means. An associated pointer indicating the address of the copy destination or the design data of the copy source that is input with each address of the design data of the destination and is associated with at least one of the design data of the copy destination and the design data of the copy source. Data association means to be added, input control means for activating the data copying means,
A data changing unit which is activated by the input control unit and changes the design data in the design data storage unit, and a related pointer of the changed design data is input from the data changing unit and the related pointer is traced to copy the copy destination or the copy. A design support apparatus comprising: a search unit that searches for original unmodified design data. 3. The design support apparatus according to claim 2,
Pointer storage means connected to the search means and storing a related pointer of the unchanged design data searched by the search means;
An end notification unit that is activated by the input control unit and deletes the related pointer of the changed design data from the pointer storage unit; and a related pointer of the unmodified design data that is activated by the input control unit and stored in the pointer storage unit. A design support apparatus comprising: a work progress display unit for displaying. 4. The design support device according to claim 3,
The address of the first design data is input from the pointer storage means by the end notifying means, the related pointer of the first design data is referred to, and the address of the second design data pointed to by the related pointer is set. Take out the second
Of the design data is written in the first design data to update the first design data, and the updated first design data is passed to a design program and executed. Design support device. 5. The design support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data associating means stores a correspondence table of design data of the copy source and design data of the copy destination obtained by copying the design data of the copy source. A design support device, further comprising a table storage means for adding a relation pointer of the design data of the copy source and a relation pointer of the design data of the copy destination to the correspondence table. 6. A storage means for storing a data set and at least one record stored in the data set, a copying means for copying the data set, and an address of a data source of the copy source which is activated by the copying means. And an address of the copy destination data set, and a related pointer adding means for writing a related pointer indicating the address of the copy source data set in a specific area of the copy destination data set, and a record in the specified data set. A record presence / absence determining unit for determining whether or not the record exists, and when the record presence / absence determining unit changes the record, the inquiry record is updated if it exists, and if the record does not exist, the record generated by the record generating unit is set. And a record changing means for receiving the data set name and the record name and storing them in the storage means. A related pointer search means for searching the data set having the designated record name by tracing the related pointer of the specified data set, and a record inquiry querying the record presence / absence judgment means for displaying the data set. For example, it comprises a data set display means for sending the record to the output device, and if the record is absent, searches for a data set having the record name designated by the related pointer search means, retrieves the record and sends it to the output device. An information processing device characterized by the above. 7. A data storing step of storing design data in a design data storing means, a data copying step of copying the design data to another storage area of the design data storing means, and a copying specified in the data copying step. Using the address of the original design data and the address of the copy destination design data, an associated pointer indicating the address of the design data that is associated with at least one of the copy destination design data and the copy source design data is provided. A method of copying design data, comprising the step of associating data to be added. 8. A data storing step of storing design data in a design data storing means, a data copying step of copying the design data, and a copying operation using an address of the design data of the copy source specified in the data copying step. A data associating step of adding the address of the previous design data to the design data of the copy source, and a data changing step of changing the design data on the design data storage means,
When the design data changed by the data changing step is added with the address of the design data of the copy destination, the address of the design data of the copy destination is stored in the pointer storage means, and A pointer storing step for ending the processing when the address of the design data of the copy destination is not added, a search step for re-calling the pointer storing step with the design data of the copy destination as changed design data, and the pointer storage A design change range search method comprising a display step of displaying the contents of the means or the contents of the design data indicated by the contents. 9. A work progress display method using the design change range search method according to claim 8, wherein a pointer save step of saving the contents of the pointer storage means to another storage means, and a related pointer of the design data for which the change has been completed. Is deleted from the pointer storage means, and a display step of comparing and displaying the contents of the pointer storage means saved in the pointer saving step with the current contents of the pointer storage means. How to display the work progress. 10. Data storage means for storing data,
Data copying means for copying the data to another storage area of the data storing means, and the respective addresses of the copy source data and the copy destination data are input from the data copying means to input the copy destination data and the copy source. Data including a data associating means for adding an address of the data of the copy destination or the data of the copy source to at least one of the data, and an input control means for activating the data copying means. Management support device. 11. Data storage means for storing data,
Data copying means for copying the data to another storage area of the data storing means, and addresses of the copy source data and the copy destination data are inputted from the data copying means, and the copy destination data and the copy source are inputted. Data, a data associating means for adding an associated pointer indicating the address of the copy destination or the copy source data that is related to at least one of the data, input control means for activating the data copying means, and the input control means. Data changing means that is activated to change the data in the data storage means and a related pointer of the changed data is input from the data changing means, and the related pointer is traced to change the unmodified data of the copy destination or the copy source. A data management support device comprising a search means for searching. 12. The data management support apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a pointer storage unit connected to the search unit for storing a related pointer of unmodified data searched by the search unit and an input control unit are activated and changed. An end notification means for deleting the related pointer of the data from the pointer storage means, and a work progress display means for starting the input control means and displaying the related pointer of the unchanged data stored in the pointer storage means. A data management support device characterized in that 13. The data management support apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the end notification means is activated to input the address of the first data from the pointer storage means, and
Of the data, the address of the second data pointed to by the relevant pointer is fetched, the second data is written to the first data, the first data is updated, and the update is performed. A data management support device comprising an automatic reflection means for passing the first data to a management program for execution. 14. The data management support apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the data associating unit stores a correspondence table between a copy source data and a copy destination design data obtained by copying the copy source data. A data management support apparatus, further comprising storage means for adding a relation pointer of the copy source data and a relation pointer of the copy destination data to the correspondence table.