CAD Desktop (CA-CAD) 
Purpose
CAD desktop is a user interface for CAD integration, allowing you to edit document-based structures using a CAD interface, both in the CAD system and from the SAP system. Access to CAD desktop is through direct integration, which communicates with CAD desktop using Remote Function Call (RFC). You can activate SAP functions directly from the CAD system. For example, you can create and edit document-based structures directly from the CAD system.
The system uses a fully configurable user interface to display CAD structures in CAD desktop. You can manage and display a wide variety of document information stored in the SAP system, such as person responsible, status, and material links, in the form of display variants.
CAD desktop supports a range of CAD systems, for example:
● Pro/ENGINEER
● CATIA
● Inventor
● AutoCAD
● SolidEdge
● SolidWorks
Partner companies develop the corresponding interfaces. Support for concurrent engineering and versioning enables the simultaneous processing, for example, of an assembly by several users, where you can save the different processing statuses in the system.
Integration
Linking a CAD system and CAD desktop in the SAP system enables you to manage all components designed in the CAD system. This has the following advantages:
· Access to CAD objects is coordinated by versioning and status management in such a way that simultaneous work by multiple users (concurrent engineering) for example, on an assembly, is possible without inconsistency, and loss of data.
· Checking mechanisms prevent inconsistent data and offer possible solutions in case of conflict.
· You can use CAD desktop to load original application files that belong together from the SAP system to the CAD system, where you can process or display them directly, and so avoid redundant workflows.
· All authorized users have access to the CAD objects (originals) stored in a central secure storage area, and can therefore follow the development process, or make changes themselves. This enables you to reduce redundant work steps.
Features
You can work with CAD desktop in views. The SAP side and the CAD side are represented separately, so that you can get an overview of both the document-based structures and the originals that belong to them. Comprehensive display and processing functions, which are adapted to the objects, support the efficient handling of documents and the related originals in each view (see Processing of Document Info Records and Originals).
The following views are available in CAD desktop:
In CAD desktop, as standard, the following lines are displayed above these views:
● Working directory
● Change number
If necessary, you can hide these lines by using the Business Add-In (BAdI) CDESK_TBM_ADDIN with method ADD_NEW_FUNCTIONS. Additional functions can be set up using parameters in Customizing. For more information, see Customizing for CAD Desktop (CA-CAD) under CAD Desktop and Business Add-Ins (BAdIs).