Reusable data constructs for a modeling system

A computer-readable data storage medium comprising instructions for causing a computer to:

• execute a process that automatically identifies one or more computer-aided design components defined as respective logical data sets in a design file used for construction of a first computer-aided design model;
• store data for re-creating the computer-aided design components, wherein the stored data comprises a unique dataset associated with each one of the computer-aided design components;
• search the stored data for the unique dataset matching a search criterion without opening the design file;
• present a reusable CAD entity, wherein the reusable CAD entity is the computer-aided design component associated with the unique dataset matching the search criterion;
• and
• allow for user selection of the reusable CAD entity.

A computer-aided design system comprising:

• a processor operatively coupled to a data storage system, the data storage system storing a three-dimensional model;
• and
• a data storage memory operatively coupled to the processor and comprising instructions to configure the processor to:
• automatically decompose a computer-aided design file into a plurality of CAD entities, each CAD entity being a respective logical data set, wherein instructions to configure the processor to automatically decompose further comprises instructions to:
• analyze the computer-aided design file to identify each of the plurality of CAD entities;
• and
• store in a database information corresponding to each of the plurality of CAD entities for later retrieval to reproduce at least one of the plurality of CAD entities, wherein the information is one of data indicating a location in the computer-aided design file and data defining at least one of the plurality of CAD entities;
• and
• query the database to locate certain ones of the plurality of CAD entities;
• retrieve the information from the database corresponding to the certain ones of the plurality of CAD entities;
• present the certain ones of the plurality of CAD entities in a user interface upon retrieval of the information corresponding to the certain ones of the plurality of CAD entities;
• select reusable design data represented by one of the presented certain ones of the plurality of CAD entities for inclusion in the three-dimensional model;
• and
• construct the three-dimensional model by incorporating the selected reusable design data in the three-dimensional model.