Method and system for extracting information from RFQ documents and compressing RFQ files into a common RFQ file type

A system for creating compressed files for use in an electronic RFQ, wherein the system receives electronic files for use in the electronic RFQ, comprising:

• means for extracting link information from a text-based file and storing extracted link information in an output file separated from the electronic file;
• means for extracting ISO symbol information from a CAD file and storing extracted symbol information in the output file;
• means for converting the file to a raster image;
• means for compressing the raster image into an electronic RFQ format file;
• means for generating a separate display layer to display extracted information in addition to the RFQ format file and overlaying the RFQ format file;
• and
• means for inserting the separate display layer into the electronic RFQ format file such that the information of the display layer is displayed in response to an activation received from the RFQ format file.

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for creating a compressed file for use in an electronic RFQ, wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive an electronic file for use in an electronic RFQ;
• extract link information from the received file and store extracted link information in an output file separated from the electronic file, if the received file is a text-based file with links,
• extract ISO symbol information from the file and store extracted symbol information in the output file, if the received file is a CAD file;
• convert the file to a raster image;
• compress the raster file into an electronic RFQ format file;
• generate a separate display layer that to display extracted information in addition to the RFQ format file;
• and
• inserting the separate display layer into the electronic RFQ format file, if information was extracted from the file, wherein the display layer is displayed overlaying the RFQ format file, and wherein extracted information is displayed from the display layer in response to an activation from the displayed RFQ format file.

A method of compressing a CAD file that contains ISO symbols into an RFQ format file, whereby displaying the RFQ format file will cause the information stored in the ISO symbols to be displayed in a CTQ layer, comprising:

• (a) receiving a drawing in a CAD file;
• (b) parsing ISO symbol information from the drawing in the CAD file and storing the symbol information in a symbol output file;
• (c) converting the drawing into a raster image;
• (d) compressing the raster image to an RFQ format file;
• and
• (e) inserting information from the symbol output file into the RFQ format file as a separate display layer, such that the symbol information is displayed as a CTQ layer in the RFQ format file.

A system for compressing a CAD file that contains ISO symbols into an RFQ format file, whereby displaying the REQ format file will cause the information stored in the ISO symbols to be displayed in a CTQ layer, comprising:

• means for receiving a drawing in a CAD file;
• means for parsing ISO symbol information from the drawing in the CAD file and storing the symbol information in a symbol output file;
• means for converting the drawing into a raster image;
• means for compressing the raster image to an REF format file;
• and
• means for inserting the information from the symbol output file into the REF format file as a separate display layer, such that the symbol information is displayed as a CTQ layer in the REF format file.

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for compressing a CAD file that contains ISO symbols into an REF format file, whereby displaying the REF format file will cause the information stored in the ISO symbols to be displayed in a CTQ layer, wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a drawing in a CAD file;
• parse ISO symbol information from the drawing in the CAD file and store symbol information in a symbol output file;
• convert the drawing into a raster image;
• compress the raster image to an RFQ format file;
• and
• insert the information from the symbol output file into the RFQ format file as a separate display layer, such that the symbol information is displayed as a CTQ layer in the REF format file.

A method of extracting link information from a page in a PDF file and reinserting the link information into an REF format file, comprising:

• (a) determining if there are links on the page;
• (b) if there are links, creating a link output file for the page and writing link properties for each link into the link output file;
• (c) converting the page to a raster image;
• (d) compressing the raster image into an REF format file;
• and
• (e) if there are links, adding link information from the link output file to the REF format file, wherein each link is displayed in a separate display layer overlaying the REF format file, and wherein the link properties of each link is displayed in response to an activation from the displayed REF format file.

A system for extracting link information from a page in a PDF file and reinserting the link information into an RFQ format file, comprising:

• means for determining if there are links on the page;
• means for creating a link output file for the page and writing link properties for each link into the link output file;
• means for converting the page to a raster image;
• means for compressing the raster image into an RFQ format file;
• and
• means for adding link information from the link output file to the RFQ format file, wherein each link is displayed in a separate display layer overlaying the RFQ format file, and wherein the link properties of each link is displayed in response to an activation from the displayed RFQ format file.

A machine-readable medium that includes instructions for extracting link information from a page in a PDF file and reinserting the link information into an RFQ format file, wherein such instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• determine if there are links on the page;
• create a link output file for the page and writing link properties for each link into the link output file, if there are links;
• convert the page to a raster image;
• compress the raster image into an RFQ format file;
• and
• add the link information from the link output file to the RFQ format file, wherein each link is displayed in a separate display layer overlaying the RFQ format file, and wherein the link properties of each link is displayed in response to an activation from the displayed RFQ format file.