1. A method for retrieving electronic data over a network, the method comprising: storing a plurality of computer solid models in a central computer system coupled to a network, wherein a plurality of the solid models have associated search criteria; accessing an application program running on the central computer system from a user computer system over the network; entering a search value in the application program at the user computer system based on at least one component of the search criteria; searching the central computer system based on the entered search value; and presenting the results of the search.