Patent ID: 7418666

Claim:
A method for creating data and applying the data in a CAD design model, comprising: creating data to be applied during a design of the CAD model as part of an administrator role, the creating data including, receiving input defining attributes of elements to be used in the CAD model to obtain predefined attributes, storing the predefined attributes in a data resource file having a same file format as the CAD model; storing the data resource file in a resource library at a central location that is accessible to a plurality of users; and creating a design file in a user role, the creating including, providing access to the resource library at the central location to at least one of the plurality of users, presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) displaying the data resource file of the resource library to the at least one user, receiving input from the at least one user selecting the data resource file of the data resource library, receiving input from the user creating an element of the CAD model, associating the attribute in the data resource file to the element as the element is being created, and applying the selected data resource file to define attributes of the element as the element is being created in the CAD model.