Importance

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Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for executing intelligent shape programming in a computer within a CAD application program, wherein elements of the intelligent shape can be protected from unauthorized use and modification. The intelligent shape comprises several objects for use in connecting, manipulating, displaying, mapping, protecting, and otherwise creating a new component or modifying an existing one. To provide for the protection of a shape, the intelligent shape programming provides for the user of a protection object that comprises a read-write shape identification and a set password method. The set password method is utilized to assign a password to each shape that is combined with the shape identification such that the shape becomes password protected. Once password protected, properties and expressions of the shape cannot be modified, changed, deleted, etc. and the protection status of the shape cannot be changed. To provide for the protection of individual properties and expressions of a shape, a boolean protection property for each property/expression of a shape is maintained in an expressions object. When the protection property is set to TRUE (and the shape is password protected), the expression/property cannot be changed, modified, accessed, deleted, assigned, etc. Accordingly, an author supplied password is utilized to prevent unauthorized access and protect the author's investment in creating and defining the shape.

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First Claim