System and method for creating a build set and bill of materials from a master source model

#What is needed is a mechanism to dynamically create a build set and build of materials from user-selected options from a single master source model.

#The needs set forth above as well as further and other needs and advantages are addressed by the present embodiment. The solutions and advantages of the present embodiment are achieved by the illustrative embodiment described herein below.

#For a better understanding of the present embodiment, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the system of the present embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the bill of materials (BOM) processor of the present embodiment;

#FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the build set processor of the present embodiment;

#Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

#The present embodiment is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which present an illustrative, but not limiting, embodiment. The following configuration description is presented for illustrative purposes only. Any computer configuration and architecture satisfying the speed and interface requirements herein described may be suitable for implementing the system and method of the present embodiment.

#In the present embodiment, computer-aided design (CAD) drawings including selected options can be created automatically for the purpose of, for example, viewing and pricing a model home with various options. Simple, complex, and intersecting options that are common in, for example, production homes, can be included in the building design created by the present embodiment. A simple option can be, for example, but not limited to, when a washer or a dryer is optionally added to a standard building model. A complex option can be, for example, but is not limited to, when a sunroom is added to a standard building model. An intersection option can be, for example, but not limited to, when selected options affect one other, and can include, for example, but not limited to, when a sunroom with a walkout basement is added, or when the elevation is changed in a garage. When certain options are chosen, other parts of the building design could be affected, for example, the foundation, the first floor plan, or the roof plan. The present embodiment accommodates assembling of a selected drawing based on the selected options. Also, groups of graphics from external drawings (drawings that are not the selected drawing) can be included in the selected drawing based on the selected options. Graphical preferences can allow the display of identified selected options, and groups of displayed selected options can be, for example, but not limited to, moved or removed based on graphical preferences of the selected options. The selected options can also change appearance depending on the graphical preferences of the selected option. For example, the selected options can be made to mirror each other, such as a left- or right-handed garage. The dimensions of the drawing can be adjusted after the selected options have been included. Notes and details that correspond to option selection can also be preserved.