Object connection breaking system and method

A method for object connection breaking comprising:

• through operation of at least one processor:
• causing a display device to display a plurality of connected objects, wherein the plurality of connected objects include two-dimensional (2D) computer-aided design (CAD) objects or three-dimensional (3D) CAD objects that are directly connected to and abut each other to form complex 2D or 3D structures, and wherein each connection includes at least one constraint that acts as a functional association between the connected objects so that object properties are inherited between the connected objects and causes motion of one object to affect the position, shape, or orientation of a connected object;
• receiving at least one selection input through an input device representative of selecting a first one of the connected objects while a second one of the connected objects remains unselected, wherein the second object has an initial shape at an initial position, and wherein the first object has an initial position;
• responsive to first motion inputs received through the input device representative of the selected first object being moved with a first motion that does not have a predetermined motion characteristic, maintaining a connection between the first and second object while changing positions of the first object and the second object displayed through the display device, such that the second object no longer has one of either the initial shape or the initial position of the second object, wherein the entire second object moves with movement of the first object prior to the connection between the first and second objects being broken so that the first object and second object together behave as a single complex structure;
• and
• responsive to second motion inputs received through the input device representative of the selected first object being moved with a second motion that has the predetermined motion characteristic, breaking the connection between the first and second objects, causing a current shape and position of the second object to correspond to the initial shape and position of the second object while the current position of the first object does not correspond to the initial position of the first object, and deleting the at least one constraint.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method for object connection breaking comprising:

• causing a display device to display a plurality of connected objects, wherein the plurality of connected objects include two-dimensional (2D) computer-aided design (CAD) objects or three-dimensional (3D) CAD objects that are directly connected to and abut each other to form complex 2D or 3D structures, and wherein each connection includes at least one constraint that acts as a functional association between the connected objects so that object properties are inherited between the connected objects and causes motion of one object to affect the position, shape, or orientation of a connected object;
• receiving at least one selection input through an input device representative of selecting a first one of the connected objects while a second one of the connected objects remains unselected, and wherein the second object has an initial shape at an initial position, wherein the first object has an initial position;
• responsive to first motion inputs received through the input device representative of the selected first object being moved with a first motion that does not have a predetermined motion characteristic, maintaining a connection between the first and second object while changing positions of the first object and the second object displayed through the display device, such that the second object no longer has one of either the initial shape or the initial position of the second object, wherein the entire second object moves with movement of the first object prior to the connection between the first and second objects being broken so that the first object and second object together behave as a single complex structure;
• and
• responsive to second motion inputs received through the input device representative of the selected first object being moved with a second motion that has the predetermined motion characteristic, breaking the connection between the first and second objects, causing a current shape and position of the second object to correspond to the initial shape and position of the second object while the current position of the first object does not correspond to the initial position of the first object, and deleting the at least one constraint.