1. A process for selecting an object in a PLM database containing modeled objects, the process comprising: providing a graphical user interface with a user-controlled pointer; displaying on the graphical user interface a view of a set ( 20 ) of objects ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ) of the database, said view being a non-associative view; determining the location of the pointer ( 32 ) in the view; and searching the database and identifying to the user one object ( 24 lf ) according to the determined location.