WEB-Based Single Foundation CAD System

Since 1990s, traditional design idea has been challenged by computer network technology, which is rapidly popularized and has huge developing potential, along with CE (current engineering). Computer network technology is changing the fundamental ways how people work and how people use information. At the same time, engineer's design facility and environment are changing dramatically. The extremely fast development of network technology, computer technique and database technique provides some new design idea and new technology to use CAD. This will change the existing aided design model thoroughly. Under this circumstance, Web-based CAD (i.e. WEB-CAD) conies out.Based on analysis for some key techniques, such as Web, component technology, remote drawing, CAD technique and database technology, this research chose web-based single foundation CAD system as the subject, developed a prototype for web-based single foundation CAD system, and provided a set of effective technique solution, which includes the general framework, basic modules, developing environment and tools, developing principles for web-based design, WEB-CAD operation, etc. Also basic functions of modules for this system have been achieved successfully in this research.Main research work and findings from this research includes: Some key techniques to WEB-CAD are analyzed. Module building method and general solution for web-based distributed single foundation CAD system are developed, and ASP (Application Service Provider) is provided as one operating mean for WEB-CAD. How to develop main modules for WEB-CAD are studied and mechanisms to realize these modules are discussed. Also detailed introduction to some crucial techniques are given, such as ActiveXAutomation interface technology, object-oriented program design technique, database technology, application technique for Browser / Web / Server architecture. In addition, ASP technique and its components are described, and how to use ASP to develop Web application program are also studied. WEB-CAD environment and operation procedure are described, and a practical example is presented, which could prove that the Web-based single foundation CAD system is correct in principle and friendly in user interface, also has potential to be used in practical design.