INTEGRATED COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN TOOL

摘要

A computer Aided Design (CAD) tool is configured as an add on tool for an architectural design system, such as AutoCAD, to form an integrated design tool for designing various building systems, such as fire detection and alarm. The integrated design tool facilitates the design of fire detection and alarm systems for buildings without the need to duplicate any of the architectural designs. By configuring the system as an add-on tool, various problems associated with known design tools configured as stand alone CAD systems are avoided. One important feature of the invention is that the system is configured to automatically generate riser diagrams as well as eliminate a number of manual tasks normally associated with the system. Thus, the system in accordance with the present invention not only avoids duplication of the architectural drawings but facilitates the entire fire protection design for a building.