1. A system for collaborating on a component, comprising: a computing device configured to execute a first multi-user CAx environment including a data module and an import module; wherein the data module is configured to access a database relating to a component design, the component design relating to a group of function-based commands; wherein the import module is configured to cause a user defined object to be imported into the first multi-user CAx environment in response to the user defined object being located based on an identifier, the user defined object relating to the component design; wherein the first multi-user CAx environment is configured to execute a first function set in a single user mode and a second function set in a multi-user mode; and wherein the database is configured to store data relating to the user defined object in a format common to at least one of the first and second function sets, each of the first and second function sets configured to characterize the component design; and wherein the first function set and the second function set do not have any predefined functionality corresponding to the user defined object.