Abstract: A multitude of equal elements is identified in a CAD model. An element is an entity, a feature, a grid, an entity reference, a feature reference or a grid reference. Equal elements comprise an identical element geometry. A regular grid of multiple repetition positions is determined based on insertion positions of equal elements of the multitude. A group of multiple equal elements of the multitude, which comprise an insertion position associated with a repetition position of the regular grid, is replaced in the CAD model with grid data. The grid data comprises a grid insertion position, element data, and element repetition data. The element data may be a pointer to an element definition comprising said identical element geometry. The element repetition data may comprise linearly independent vectors and a number of repetitions according to each vector. Compression and ergonomic subsequent user editing of the CAD model are achieved.

Abstract: A multitude of equal elements is identified in a CAD model. An element is an entity, a feature, a grid, an entity reference, a feature reference or a grid reference. Equal elements comprise an identical element geometry. A regular grid of multiple repetition positions is determined based on insertion positions of equal elements of the multitude. A group of multiple equal elements of the multitude, which comprise an insertion position associated with a repetition position of the regular grid, is replaced in the CAD model with grid data. The grid data comprises a grid insertion position, element data, and element repetition data. The element data may be a pointer to an element definition comprising said identical element geometry. The element repetition data may comprise linearly independent vectors and a number of repetitions according to each vector. Compression and ergonomic subsequent user editing of the CAD model are achieved.