Abstract: There is a great demand for interactive multimedia courseware for online courses. The
CATIA is used to generate component models of mechanical products, and the assembling,
disassembling and operating processes are simulated. The simulation animations are embedded into
Flash programs to develop interactive courseware which can be controlled step-by-step by students on
web. Another method is to import CATIA component models to 3DVIA Composer to create
interactive animated courseware. Both methods are able to generate interactive online courseware that
can be conveniently accessed and controlled by students to promote active and independent study.

Key words: mechanical design, interactive online courseware, simulation animation, Flash, 3DVIA
Composer