Method for automating the production of engineering documentation utilizing an integrated digital data base representation of the documentation

摘要

A method for automating the production of engineering documentation having at least one graphical entity thereon. The method utilizes an integrated digital data base representation of the engineering document. A symbolic identifier is placed on the document with respect to each graphical entity. The document is then electro-optically scanned to produce a digital representation of the document. Each symbolic identifier is recognized from the digital representation of the identifier. At least a portion of the digital data within a predetermined area positioned with respect to each symbolic identifier is deleted from the digital representation of the document. A correspondence is generated between each symbolic identifier and a particular entry in a symbol library and then a digital representation of the library symbol is substituted for the previously deleted digital data within the specific predetermined area. The resulting digital representation of the document with the substitution is stored as an integrated, digital data base. Thereafter the integrated digital data base can be used an an input to an automatic plotter to produce a perfectly plotted engineering document.