A method of version merging for computer-aided design files based on feature extraction

Abstract

In order to manage the version files and maintain the latest version of the computer-aided design (CAD) files in asynchronous collaborative systems, one method of version merging for CAD files is proposed to resolve the problem based on feature extraction. First of all, the feature information is extracted based on the feature attribute of CAD files and stored in a XML feature file. Then, analyse the feature file, and the feature difference set is obtained by the given algorithm. Finally, the merging result of the difference set and the master files with application programming interface (API) interface functions is achieved, and then the version merging of CAD files is also realized. The application in Catia validated that the proposed method is feasible and valuable in engineering.