Modifying a parametrically defined model with an explicit modeler

1. A computer-implemented method for managing modifications to a solid model between different modeling applications, comprising:

obtaining an original model created using a parametrically-based modeler, in the parametrically-based modeler;

obtaining, in the parametrically-based modeler, a modified version of the original model, wherein the modified version was edited using a history-free modeler;

analyzing the original model and the modified version of the original model to determine one or more differences between the original model and the modified version of the original model;

determining, based on the one or more differences, a set of one or more parametric-based treatments that, when performed on the original model, affect changes that produce a parametrically-driven version of the modified version;

selecting one or more of the parametric-based treatments, wherein each parametric-based treatment in the set is individually selectable for application to the original model; and

applying the one or more selected parametric-based treatments to produce the parametrically-driven version of the modified version.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing, determining, selecting, and applying steps are performed using an add-in to the parametrically-based modeler.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the set of one or more parametric-based treatments are displayed in a text list.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the applied one or more selected parametric-based treatments are added to a feature history of the parametrically-driven version of the modified version.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the analyzing comprises:

comparing one or more feature tags assigned to each feature in the original model to one or more feature tags assigned to each feature in the modified version; and

based on the comparison determining if any feature from the original model or the modified version have been added, removed, or modified.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more parametric-based treatments in the set comprise:

determining that performing a fully parametric modification to a feature in the original model is not possible; and

copying a face of the modified version, and performing a parametric move face operation on the copied face.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining if the applied one or more selected parametric-based treatments have downstream dependencies; and

if there are downstream dependencies, repeating the steps of determining the set of one or more parametric-based treatments, selecting one or more of the parametric-based treatments, and applying the one or more selected parametric based treatments.

8. An apparatus for managing modifications to a solid model between different modeling applications in a computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory;

(b) a parametrically-based modeler executing on the computer, wherein the parametrically-based modeler is configured to:

(i) obtain an original model created using the parametrically-based modeler;

(ii) obtain a modified version of the original model, wherein the modified version was edited using a history-free modeler;

(iii) analyze the original model and the modified version of the original model to determine one or more differences between the original model and the modified version of the original model;

(iv) determine, based on the one or more differences, a set of one or more parametric-based treatments that, when performed on the original model, affect changes that produce a parametrically-driven version of the modified version;

(v) select one or more of the parametric-based treatments, wherein each parametric-based treatment in the set is individually selectable for application to the original model; and

(vi) apply the one or more selected parametric-based treatments to produce the parametrically-driven version of the modified version.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the parametrically-based modeler further comprises an add-in that is configured to perform the analyze, determine, select, and apply steps.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the set of one or more parametric-based treatments are displayed in a text list.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the applied one or more selected parametric-based treatments are added to a feature history of the parametrically-driven version of the modified version.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the parametrically-based modeler is configured to analyze by:

comparing one or more feature tags assigned to each feature in the original model to one or more feature tags assigned to each feature in the modified version; and

based on the comparison determining if any feature from the original model or the modified version have been added, removed, or modified.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the one or more parametric-based treatments in the set comprise:

determing that performing a fully parametric modification to a feature in the original model is not possible; and

copying a face of the modified version, and performing a parametric move face operation on the copied face.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the parametrically-based modeler is further configured to:

determine if the applied one or more selected parametric-based treatments have downstream dependencies; and

if there are downstream dependencies, repeating the steps of determining the set of one or more parametric-based treatments, selecting one or more of the parametric-based treatments, and applying the one or more selected parametric based treatments.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with computer program instructions which when accessed by a computer cause the computer to load the program instructions to a memory therein creating a special purpose data structure causing the computer to operate as a specially programmed computer, executing a method of managing modifications to a solid model between different modeling applications, comprising:

(a) obtaining, in the specially programmed computer in a parametrically-based modeler, an original model created using the parametrically-based modeler;

(b) obtaining, in the specially programmed computer in the parametrically-based modeler, a modified version of the original model, wherein the modified version was edited using a history-free modeler;

(c) analyzing, in the specially programmed computer, the original model and the modified version of the original model to determine one or more differences between the original model and the modified version of the original model;

(d) determining, in the specially programmed computer, based on the one or more differences, a set of one or more parametric-based treatments that, when performed on the original model, affect changes that produce a parametrically-driven version of the modified version;

(e) selecting, in the specially programmed computer, one or more of the parametric-based treatments, wherein each parametric-based treatment in the set is individually selectable for application to the original model; and

(f) applying, in the specially programmed computer, the one or more selected parametric-based treatments to produce the parametrically-driven version of the modified version.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the analyzing, determining, selecting, and applying steps are performed using an add-in to the parametrically-based modeler.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the set of one or more parametric-based treatments are displayed in a text list.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the applied one or more selected parametric-based treatments are added to a feature history of the parametrically-driven version of the modified version.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the analyzing comprises:

comparing one or more feature tags assigned to each feature in the original model to one or more feature tags assigned to each feature in the modified version; and

based on the comparison determining if any feature from the original model or the modified version have been added, removed, or modified.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the one or more parametric-based treatments in the set comprise:

determining that performing a fully parametric modification to a feature in the original model is not possible; and

copying a face of the modified version, and performing a parametric move face operation on the copied face.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining if the applied one or more selected parametric-based treatments have downstream dependencies; and

if there are downstream dependencies, repeating the steps of determining the set of one or more parametric-based treatments, selecting one or more of the parametric-based treatments, and applying the one or more selected parametric based treatments.