diff --git a/backend/src/determine_file_type.cpp b/backend/src/determine_file_type.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cc582b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/src/determine_file_type.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <string>
+#include <TopoDS_Shape.hxx>
+#include <filesystem> 
+using namespace std; 
+
+TopoDS_Shape convert_file(const string filepath) { 
+    filesystem::path p(filepath); 
+    string extension = p.extension().string().tolower();
+    if (extension == ".iges" || extension == ".igs") {
+        TopoDS_Shape shape = read_iges(filepath.c_str());
+        return shape;
+    } else if (extension == ".step" || extension == ".stp") {
+        TopoDS_Shape shape = read_step(filepath.c_str());
+        return shape;
+    } else {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Error: File type not supported.");
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file