A method includes obtaining information defining a diagram that contains a diagram element graphically representing a component of an industrial process control and automation system. The method also includes generating a graph representing the diagram element by identifying reference points in the diagram element, identifying at least one direction of each of multiple lines in the diagram element, and forming the graph using the at least one direction of each line and the reference points. The method further includes comparing the graph of the diagram element to one or more graphs of one or more application engineering elements. In addition, the method includes generating a meta file identifying a position of the diagram element in the diagram and the application engineering element that most closely matches the diagram element.