An Open Source Application for Archiving Product Design Information

This paper describes an open source computer application developed at the University of Missouri - Rolla (UMR) for archiving product design information. The Repository Entry application is designed to work with the UMR design repository to record and upload product information. Written in C++, the application and user interface is compiled in Qt allowing for native Macintosh and Windows executables. The Repository Entry application can record all of the design information types allowed by the repository including: artifact-, function-, failure-, physical-, performance-, sensory- and media-related information types. By using XML, files can be seamlessly transferred between the Windows and Macintosh entry application versions as well as the online repository. Through an example product the procedure of using the entry application to record and upload design information is demonstrated. The result of this research is a fully functional, easy to use and multi-platform application to aid in the design information archival and reuse process.