An intelligent graphics viewer bundles all requirements on the handling of graphic details into one viewing program.

This enormously simplifies the structure of the electronic catalog and the required software. Unlike with overlays, no second graphic system is needed to handle the hotspots. The links are administered external to the graphics, either in tables or databases. Therefore, it is not necessary to open a graphic file for processing its link.

The graphic viewer surveys the illustration independently and responds when a mouse-click on a graphic object occurs. External to the graphic, the name of the object is analyzed and the appropriate link is executed. This characteristic is vital for the automated generation of catalogs because, with its assistance, work-intensive interferences in the graphic file can be limited to a minimum.

Furthermore, "intelligent" viewers like IsoView highlight graphic objects. Since the viewer provides this functionality, the illustrator does not have to be concerned with such extra preparation and work steps as would otherwise be the case.