Setting up a versioning system for CAD blocks

dfano - December 30, 2008 - 07:31

Hi All-

I'm trying to create a site where users and "Check Out" a CAD block and the "Check In" A newer version. I do not know that much about open Source development but I have read a bit about CVS and think it would work kind of like CVS. Except there would be no code. Users would just upload a .dwg file or .zip. A basic scenario would be: I start a "project" in this case lets say it's a 3d sink. All i modeled is the main shape and some basics faucets. Then a new users comes along downloads it makes it better and then want to contribute that back. What i would hope to have when it's fully functional is a running list of all the file that were posted along the way. Basically i want to create a site that treat CAD blocks like Drupal modules.

Anyone have any ideas on which modules i might use to tackle this. Would Revisions do the trick? Could these be managed through Organic Groups? Make it project a "Group"

Thanks in advance,

Dave

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You should probably look at

WorldFallz - December 30, 2008 - 19:16

You should probably look at the http://drupal.org/project/project suite of modules though they are still being actively developed for d6.

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:( i would like to stick

dfano - January 2, 2009 - 17:04

:( i would like to stick with drupal 6. I think im going to try it with OG and make each Group a "project" the revisions might nit be a clean as i would like but at least people will be able to get every version.

Thanks,

The only problem with that

WorldFallz - January 2, 2009 - 18:24

The only problem with that is drupal doesn't do true document management-- I don't believe revisions extend to file attachments, just nodes. It will be up to the human being doing the update to sort out which version of the file is being attached to the node revision.

It definitely can be done-- I'm doing it with the 'document' content type for my intranet site, but users tend to really dislike having to handle the document versioning and attachments manually. It's the main reason i can't rid my environment of a dependence on sharepoint.

Before settling on drupal for your use case, you may want to look at alfresco. In my use case, document management is a secondary function so I can limp along with a hobbled document management solution. Your site sounds like it's main purpose is document management so you may want to look elsewhere.

That is a key component but

dfano - January 3, 2009 - 07:30

That is a key component but i would also like to build a community around the crowd sourced content. I'm thinking if 1 person starts / owns each project they might be inclined to clean it up every once in a while. I also want to have a wiki to have a community authored standard for building the 3d CAD part (parameter naming, units, layers, etc, etc) I also want to make it software independent so i figure that will start up lots of great conversations (forum).

I do this stuff for free ( i cover the hosting cost my self) and i build these site on my spare time so i don't have a lot of time to learn Alfresco :( and i really like drupal so far :) . The main reason for building the site is i really think it will help people in the field.

I have found a bunch of great link to articles discussing PM solution through drupal. worse case we can manage it through a good naming convention for the files.

Thanks for the feedback,

...worse case we can manage

WorldFallz - January 7, 2009 - 14:33

...worse case we can manage it through a good naming convention for the files.

Yep.. that's pretty much what I do. Not great usability wise, but it does work. And i'm confident drupal will eventually tackle proper document management. Good luck with your site.