CATIA Training

Foils

CATIA Basics

1
Course Presentation

Objectives of the Course

In this course you will learn basic manipulations and tools and get familiar
with standard CATIA V5 interface and behaviours

Targeted audience
New CATIA V5 Users

Prerequisites:
None

0.5 day
Table of Contents

1. CATIA User Interface

2. Multi-document Support
3. Workbench Concept
4. Manipulating Objects with the Mouse
5. The Specification Tree
6. Moving Objects Using the Compass
7. Manipulating and Viewing Objects
8. Working with CATIA Documents

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CATIA User Interface
You will learn and practice basic concepts of CATIA user interface
What about CATIA User Interface ?

Some Key features:

• Multi-document support

• Standard and specific menus & toolbars

(File, Edit, Insert...)

• Standard manipulations (Copy-Paste, Drag

& Drop, Edit in place...)

• Intuitive (Highlighting, copilot, cursor

shapes...)

• Contextual menu (MB3)

• Specification Tree including all

technological features, constraints,
relationships ...

• Workbenches and associated toolbars ...

5
CATIA User Interface
Icons to minimize, maximize,
or close windows

Menus

Window of Icon of active workbench

active Part Design
document
Toobars of active
workbench
Tree
...

Tree scrollbar

Double arrows mean

there are more
toolbars Drag the >>
sign to move unseen
toolbars

You can easily change the layout of CATIA window by hiding or moving toolbars.
You can have several documents open at the same time within the CATIA window.

6
 Menus and Toolbars
Toolbars provide quick access to tools Use the View menu
which are also available in menus to activate toolbars

Toolbars that are checked

are accessible. Others are
hidden.

Double arrows mean

there are more
toolbars. Drag the >>
sign to move unseen
toolbars

Drag separator to Click [x] to

move the toolbar close the
anywhere toolbar

Right click (right mouse button) in the

prompt zone to quickly access the
toolbar list
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How to Use Dialog Boxes?
Dialog boxes provide parameters for the definition
of features. They are standardized and easy to use
Click the question mark and select a field to get help
Ex: if you double-click on a hole you will get the Hole
Definition dialog box Click the cross to close the dialog box

Name of the task

Select a tab to define particular parameters

Select an option in the drop down list
Key in a value or click up and down arrows
Fields not selectable (locked)

Select button to activate the action

Click check box to activate the option
Inactive field

Click OK to confirm
Click Cancel to leave the function
Click Preview to pre-visualize the
result
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Multi-documents Support
 Manipulating Windows
Click to minimize (iconify)
Use the Window menu to list Click to maximize
& swap open windows (full screen)

CATIA window Click to close

Inactive
Document

Active
Document
Click to restore initial size
(when full screen or
minimized)

Click & drag any edge to

resize a window

One click on CATIA Document with MB1 to activate it

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Positioning Windows
It is easy to work with several documents and position them.

Click on the Window menu to check the opened 2 Select Tile to split the display
1
documents horizontally or vertically

Here 2 documents are

open. The second one is
active

The active document.

Click on any window to make it active

(Blue title bar) or select the document
by the Window menu:

All the documents fits

in the available space
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Workbench Concept

You will learn to access and customize the favorite workbenches

The Workbench Concept
CATIA is organized into several workbenches. Each workbench is dedicated to a
specific work
Mechanical Workbenches Your work is stored in documents
 Part Design To design parts You will work in documents. There are different types
of document depending on the workbench used....
 Sketcher To sketch 2D profiles

 WireFrame & Surface To Enrich existing

mechanical part design with wire frame features
Current workbench
and basic surface feature

 Assembly Design To Easily establish

mechanical assembly constraints, automatically
positions parts and checks assembly
consistency

 Generative & Interactive Drafting To

Generate drawings from 3D part and assembly
designs and make pure 2D drawings

 Sheetmetal Design A very intuitive and

productive environment to design sheet metal
parts

Documents

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Accessing the Workbench (1/2)

You can access all standards Workbenches by the Start menu.

To access the Assembly

Design Workbench,
Start CATIA, then select the
Start menu choosing
Mechanical Design and
Assembly Design

Assembly Design
Workbench icon

Access a Workbench by :
Selecting from the Start Menu or Selecting File / New :

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Accessing the Workbench (2/2)

You can insert Assembly Design Workbench in a list of your favorite worbenches and
acces it by the Workbench and Worbenches Toolbars.

1 Select Tools / Customize and drop Knowledge Advisor 2a Acces by Worbench Toolbar
on the Favorites List

2b Acces by Worbenches
Toolbar

This Assembly Design Workbench

can be now access at the Top of the
Start Menu

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Favorite Workbenches

Favorite Workbenches are those that CATIA will display

for you at each beginning of session in the Welcome
panel. Welcome panel is empty by default

Welcome
Panel

Favorite
Workbenches

The welcome panel is also available by clicking on Workbench icon

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Manipulating Objects with the Mouse

You will learn the different ways to select, manipulate, and view objects
with the Mouse

Selecting Objects with the Mouse

Moving Objects Using the Mouse
Selecting and Editing Objects with the Mouse

You will learn how to select one or more elements using the mouse
The Mouse Functions

MB2
To manipulate
objects
MB3
To display the
contextual menu

MB1
To select and
edit objects

MB means Mouse Button

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What about Selecting Objects ?
• To select an object you press the left button of the
Simple Selection : mouse, also called mouse button 1 (MB1)

Selection of Geometry or Tree Feature :

• You can either select an object (or several

objects) geometry or its corresponding feature
in the tree.
• Selecting the geometry will highlight the tree
feature(s) and vice versa

Multi-selection:

• A standard way: [Ctrl] key +

• Trapping objects: +

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 Selecting One Object
Standard way to select one object is to use mouse button 1 (left button)
also called MB1 and click the object in the geometry or in the tree

Select mode icon

1
Click the object in To de-select an
the geometry or in element click in the
the tree empty background

MB1

Note that when the cusor is over an object, its shape changes to a pointing finger
and the object is highlighted (pre-selected), you have to click to select it
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 Selecting Several Objects Using the [Ctrl] Key

Using the Control key is a standard Windows way to select several elements (multi-selection)

1
2 Keep [Ctrl] key pressed and select the
desired objects (in the tree or in the
Press [Ctrl] key geometry)

To de-select a single element, click on

it while holding the [Ctrl] key

3 Release [Ctrl] key to end

the selection

To de-select elements click in the empty background

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Selecting Several Objects Using the Trap Tool
Trapping several objects to select them

Select the down arrow of the

1
Select icon

Intersecting Trap

Selecting Trap

2 Select the Selection trap icon

4
Release MB1
3 Result: Objects completely
Drag your cursor while included in the trap are
pressing MB1 to trap the highlighted and selected
desired objects
The cursor shape changes
to a small hand

To de-select elements, click in the empty background

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Editing Parts
Editing a part may mean for example modifying the density of the part or the
part number (its properties), but most often editing consists in modifying the
sketches or the features composing the part. This operation can be done at
any time.
To edit a sketch , double-click on it in the Specification Tree
To edit a feature through definition dialog boxes in order to redefine
the parameters of your choice:
1 Double-click the feature ( a circular pattern ) to be edited (in the
specification tree or in the geometry area).

The Circular Pattern

Definition dialog box
appears

2 Modify Parameters

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Moving Objects with the Mouse

You will get familiar with panning, rotating, and zooming capabilities of
CATIA V5 using the Mouse
Manipulating objects with the Mouse

Move objects

1
MB2:
translation

2 MB2 + MB1:
Rotation

3 MB1:
Zooming

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The Specification Tree

You will get familiar with using the Specification Tree

What About the Specification Tree?
CATIA V5 provides a generic specification modeler which lets you view and modify
objects (features, sketches, … )
The hierarchy of features is called the Specification Tree. Its structure varies with the
kind of document being edited.

Part Number

1
Design Process:
Pad.1 before Pocket.1 2

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Hide and Show the Tree

Keyboard Shortcut to Hide the Specification Tree :

F3 key to hide/show the Tree

Specification Tree

To display Specification Tree, click again

on F3 key

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Activate and Deactivate the Tree

Keyboard Shortcut to Manipulate Objects :

[Shift] + F3 to activate Tree or Objects

Part is inactive

Part is active

Or
Part is inactive

Position the cursor anywhere on

the History Tree branch and click
on MB1
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Moving the Tree
Using the Scrollbar Not Using the Scrollbar
When the size of the tree Moving the tree anywhere
exceeds the window you can
use the scrollbar to display the
tree downward or upward

Click up arrow to display

the top of the tree

Drag the bar up and

down as you wish

Click down arrow to

display the bottom of
the tree

1 2
Position the cursor Click mouse button 1
on a tree branch. (MB1) and drag the
The cursor changes mouse to move the tree
to a pointing finger The cursor changes to
a small hand

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Expanding & Zooming the Tree

Geometry dimmed while zooming the tree

Click on + to expand,
on - to shrink the tree
1
Click mouse Expand / Shrink
button 1 (MB1)
on a tree
branch

2 Zoom in and To reactivate the geometry, click

out as for the 3 again on a tree branch
geometry (see
job aid)

Note that you can use the scrollbar to display the top or bottom of the tree

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Expanding & Collapsing the Specification Tree

1 File + Open

2 4

Select the ViewTree ExpansionExpand First Level

to see the first level of the Specification Tree

Reselect View->Tree Expansion-

3 >Expand Second Level

4
Then select Collapse ALL
to collapse the tree

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Scan the Design Process
There is a powerful tool to show the Part History step by step in order to
visualize design process.

1 Select Edit / Scan or Define In Work Object

2 You can select ‘forward’ at each

step to scan all steps
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Define in Work Object (1/2)

With the Specification Tree, you can insert Features

1 Select a feature on the Tree with MB1

2 Select with MB3, Define in Work Object option

Note that CATIA, in the same Body, does not consider and display features which are spelling after the
‘active’ feature defined by Define in Work Object
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Define in Work Object (2/2)

3 If you insert a new Sketch, it is positioned after the active

feature defined by Define in Work Object.

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Moving Objects Using the Compass
You will learn how to take advantage of the
compass to manipulate objects
What is the Compass ?

• The compass is a powerful tool to move

and manipulate objects, especially in
Assembly Design, FreeStyle, and Digital
Mockup products

Base of the compass

(or privileged plane)
Default is XY plane

When to use it ?

• Default orientation of the compass is • To Pan, Rotate Goemetry in 3D

parallel to reference axis system XYZ
• Default location of compass is the top
right corner of the screen
•To deform surfaces like patches and define cutting
plane in FreeStyle
• To move components in an assembly and in
Digital Mockup
• To move and rotate elements in the Sketcher,
parallel to the sketch plane

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Simple Use of the Compass (1/2)

Rotation
1 Select one of the compass axis or plane
About Z
2 Drag the cursor.
The geometry moves accordingly

Translation

About Y

XZ translation X Translation Z translation

Free rotation (Similar to
rotating with the mouse)
Just grab the top point of the
compass and move it
‘Normal to compass axis’ (Similar to
Normal View)
Just select the desired letter (x, y or z)

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Simple Use of the Compass (2/2)

Drag around Z axis….

z
z
X X
y
y

Note that the default location and

orientation of the Part does not change

To position the Compass at its default location and with its default orientation, you can
either drag it and drop it onto the reference Axis System (bottom right corner) or select the
Reset Compass command in the View menu (very useful when the compass is not visible).

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Drop the Compass onto a Component (1/3)
The component move relative to the origin.

2 Drag the red square of

1 Click the red square of the compass the compass,

3
Drop the compass
onto a component,
4 Select the desired axis (or plane)
of the compass and drag it Compass is now green

5 Result

To position the Compass at its default location and with its default orientation, you can either drag it
and drop it onto the reference Axis System (bottom right corner) or select the Reset Compass
command in the View menu (very useful when the compass is not visible).

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Drop the Compass onto a Component (2/3)
Default orientation change
1 Initial orientation of the Part
Drop the compass onto a component and
2
drag around one axis,

3 Final orientation of the Part

The default location and orientation of the

Part changes relative to the origin when
you drop the compass onto a component

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Drop the Compass onto a Component (3/3)
You can move specific features with the compass

1 Click and drag the red square of the

compass

2
Drop the compass onto
a component,

3
Select the Feature you
4 Select one element of the
Compass (axis,plane..) wants to move

5 Result

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Moving One Component in an Assembly
You can move and drag instances on the Assembly with the Compass

Click and drag the red

1
square of the compass,

3
Drop the compass onto
Move the component 2
a component,
using the compass axes
and planes

Green compass means the

component can be moved

To position the compass at its initial place, clik on empty background, on the XYZ axis
system, or drag it and drop it onto its anchor point. If you do not see the compass, click on
the View > Reset compass menu option (no element selected)

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Manipulating and Viewing Objects

You will learn the different ways to

select, manipulate, and view objects

Manipulating Objects
Hiding and Showing Objects
Rendering Styles
Graphics Properties
Selecting Objects

You will learn how to select one or more elements using the
other tools such as the search command
Selecting Objects Using the Search Command (1/2)
There is a powerful way to multi-select objects using criteria (type, color,
name, and other properties, etc) in a document or in a whole product structure

1 Edit  Search or Ctrl+F

2
2 Select criteria in the lists:
type of object, color,
graphic properties...
Note that * means any
(default) and specify where
to search
3
3 Click the Search button to
start the search
4
Select Add to
4 favorites…button

Result of the search Objects found

are pre-selected in the list (blue
field) as well as in CATIA
(highlighted)

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 Selecting Objects Using the Search Command (2/2)

5 Click OK to confirm the operation

In the Search dialog box:

6 Select the Favorites tab
7
Click Select to select the elements in the 3D
viewer and OK to close the dialog box

7
48
Selecting Objects Using a Multi-Search Criteria
Start menu:
1 Select Edit  Search

In the Search dialog box:

2 Select the Advanced tab

Specify the Workbench,

3 the type and the color in each
field

Click the Search button to start

4 the search

5 Click the Select button to

visualize the result in the viewer

6 Click OK to close the dialog box

49
Selecting Using the Preselection Navigator

This task explains how to use the preselection navigator (or the keyboard
arrows) for selecting hidden or coincident elements

2 Press any keyboard arrow.

1 Position your pointer over the object you The preselection navigator
want to select. appears.

The preselection navigator will also let you

select elements belonging to the hidden object
by clicking on the arrows
3 Click the circle in the center to validate your selection and exit the preselection
navigator.

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Magnifier

If objects are overlaid or the visualization gets confused, you can use
additional tools

Magnifier :

• The Magnifier allows you to select elements

while keeping a general view of your
geometry. It is activated using the View >
Magnifier menu option
• It opens a window zooming on the elements
seen through a rectangular trap

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Hiding and Showing Objects

You will learn how to hide and

redisplay objects

From Visible ...

... To Invisible Space

When to Hide Elements?
To clarify visualization temporarily, in 3D or in the Sketcher, or to get
rid of construction elements but still keep them accessible
Examples

Construction elements

Sketcher elements

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Hiding Elements
You can hide construction elements, and 3D elements seen
in the sketcher... for better visualization and redisplay them
later

You can quickly hide element(s) by

right clicking them in the tree (right
mouse button) and selecting the
Hide/Show option in the contextual
menu

1 Select the element(s) to hide

2 Click the Hide/Show icon in the View toolbar

Result: the selected elements are ... and icons of hidden elements
hidden. The display is clearer... are dimmed in the tree
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Redisplaying Elements
You can redisplay construction and 3D elements previously hidden
for visualization purposes

Click the Swap visible space icon in the View

1
toolbar to swap from visible to invisible space

The background color changes (i.e. green)

You can quickly redisplay an

element by right clicking on the
element in the tree (right mouse
button) and selecting the
Hide/Show option in the
contextual menu
2 Select the element(s) to redisplay

3 Click the Hide/Show icon

Click the Swap visible space icon to go

4 back to visible space
Result: the selected elements are visible

55
Rendering Styles
You will learn different ways to better visualize your
geometry according to your needs
What are the Different Rendering Styles?
You will use material for realistic and nice pictures, shading mode
for regular work, and edges for easy selection, ...

Standard Styles Customized Style

Customized

Shading (SHD) Wireframe (NHR) Shading with edges & hidden

edges

You can customize the

Shading & edges
Hidden Lines Removal
(HLR)
viewing mode according to
your own needs by quickly
applying viewing
parameters, especially
outlines and materials

57
Applying Rendering Styles

•Wireframe (NHR)

•Dynamic Hidden Line Removal

•Shading (SHD)

•Shading with Edges

•Shading with edges & Hidden Edges

1 Click on the white arrow close to the
•Customized...
rendering style icon
Then select the style you want to apply.
2 It will be applied automatically to the
geometry

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Modifying Rendering Styles

Select the View

> RenderStyle
> Customize View menu

2
Select the
options you
need •Wireframe (NHR)

•Dynamic Hidden Line Removal

•Shading (SHD)

•Shading with Edges

•Shading with edges & Hidden Edges

3 •Customized...

Apply the new style

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Applying Materials
You will learn how to apply, and modify a material
to a part

Material applied to a part and

toolbar
Accessing the Rendering Workbench

Start menu > Infrastructure > Material Library

Rendering
(Material Library)
workbench

•New Family
•Rename Family
•Remove Family
•New Material
•Rename Material
•Remove Material(s)
Apply material •Edit Properties
toolbar accessible •Sort Materials (A-Z)
from any 3D
workbench

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What About Materials?

The Apply
Material tool

Library of Materials
Pre-defined materials can be applied to:

• a PartBody, a Surface, a Body or an

OpenBody in a .CATPart document,
• a Product and instances of a .model, .cgr,
.CATPart in a .CATProduct document.
Material Library with different families of samples

To Keep a Link or not...

You can apply a material and keep a link (automatic
update when original material modified)

Link No link

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Materials Properties

Material Physical Properties

Applying materials affect the physical and
mechanical properties of elements, for
example density

These data will be used for calculation purposes in Material Properties

CATIA.Generative Structural Analysis
Note: Appropriate licenses are required to use the
Analysis and Drafting tabs
63
General Process

1 Customize the view

style

2 Apply the Customized

2 view style
Select and apply the
desired material

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Modifying the Customized View Style

2 Activate the parameters

you want to see in the
customized view (material
to see materials)

3 Click OK to confirm the

customized view style

4 Activate the Customized View icon to apply

it to the visualization

65
Applying a Material
• First you need activate the Custom View style to obtain the visualization with the material
• The Custom View style must activate the Material option (View > Render Style > Customize View)

1 Select the PartBody to which

you want to apply a material
Click on the Apply
2 Material icon

3 Select the material you

want to apply

Click on Apply Material for

4 preview (You can try different
material and click Apply Material
to check)

You can activate the Link To File

option to keep a link with the
original material. This will update
automatically your the material in
your document if a change occurs
5 Click on OK to confirm the
in the material library
(a small arrow means the material choice
is linked)

66
Quickly Applying Another Material
The Material Parameter is always displayed in the specifications tree;
its default value is set to None

Double-click on the Material feature

1 in the tree

2 The Edit parameter dialog box is

displayed. None is default if no
material is applied

3 Type the name of another material Note that:

and click on OK to confirm • You need activate the Custom View style to obtain
the visualization with the material
• The Custom View style must activate the Material
option (View > Render Style > Customize View)

67
Modifying a Material Properties

1
To modify the appearance of
Double click on the material the material icon in the tree
name in the tree
(Or use MB3 menu >
Properties)

2 Modify the parameters To modify the color of the

material and other
• The Drafting tab allows you to parameters...
change the color and pattern of
the material for Drafting
purposes

• The Analysis tab allows you to

check and modify the physical
properties of the material

Click OK to confirm the

3
changes

68
Graphic Properties
You will learn different ways to better visualize your
geometry according to your needs
 Painter (1/2)

What is about Graphic Properties ?

The Graphic Properties Toolbar is a powerful tool to change easily graphic

properties of components

Layer

Fill Color & Transparency Painter

Line Thickness & Type

Point Symbol

The painter icon lets you apply graphics properties from one object to
another.
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 Painter (1/2)

Change Graphic Properties

Select elements with MB1 2 Keeping the mouse cursor on the selected entities
1 and with MB3, Select Properties option

2 With the Graphic Properties

Toolbar, select all desired
graphic properties

You can select features on the History Tree and change theirs graphics
properties
71
 Painter (2/2)
Painter

First, select elements you want to apply new

1 graphic properties with MB1 + Ctrl

3 Result

2
Select the Painter icon and then the reference element
in order to obtain the same graphic properties.

72
Working with CATIA

You will learn how to start CATIA, and open, save, and close V5 documents

Introduction to V5 Documents
Opening V5 Documents
Saving and Closing Documents
Introduction to V5 Documents
You will learn how to identify CATIA documents

Workbenches and Documents

What about CATIA Documents ?
When working in CATIA you create, modify and save geometry
within documents. Documents are containers

Different Types of Documents Current workbench

Current document
The type of the document depends on the (blue title bar)
workbench you will use to create and
modify the geometry:

Assembly Design
.CATProduct file extension

Part Design

Sketcher

 WireFrame & Surface

.CATPart file extension

Generative &
Interactive Drafting

.CATDrawing file extension

75
Terminology
• A Product Structure is a way to structure and organize your products logically. You
can navigate within the structure and work on its different components
• A Document is a file including data you will create and manage with the associated
workbench (specific extension)
• A Workbench is a set of tools that allows you to create and manage your geometry

Current (or active)

workbench

Not active
documents have a
grey title bar

Workbench
Current document toolbars...
blue title bar

76
Starting CATIA V5

You will learn how to start CATIA V5

77
 Starting CATIA Using the Start Menu (PC)

1
Click the Start menu
and keep the key
pressed

2
Roll over Program, then
to the right 3 Roll over CATIA,
then to the right

78
Starting CATIA Using the Contextual Menu (PC)

Click the right mouse Release the key when

button MB3 to display
2 3 over CATIA Part
the contextual menu

Roll over New then

to the right

79
Opening V5 Documents

You will learn how to open new and existing

documents and how to lay out document windows
What about Opening Documents
There are different types of CATIA documents. Each type of document is associated
with a workbench.However, you can work in a document using different workbenches

After Save
the document

Note that the extension of the document will be displayed

once you save the document

81
Opening New Documents

1 File menu

Opening New documents

Then you have to click the

type of document you
want to create
and click OK

82
Opening an Existing Document
Select the File  Open... Command in CATIA menu
1 Or
Click the Open icon

In the File Selection box: Select the file

2 location

Click the "Files of type" list to display

3 the list of document types which you
want to open

Check the ‘Show Preview’ option to display a

4 preview of the selected file (Available Only on
Microsoft Windows NT workstations)
Click Open to visualize in the
5 viewer your Selected document

The list of document types you can open

depends on the configurations/products installed
and for which you have a license.

83
Saving and Closing Documents

You will learn the different ways to save documents

What about Saving Documents ?
There are different ways to save CATIA documents.

When & Why?

You save documents
• after modifying them
• to create new ones

Naming...
You save documents
• with the same name (this will replace the initial document)
• under a new name (this will create a document)

85
Saving a Document with the Same Name

There are different ways to save changes made

in a document. You can also save an existing
document to create a new one

Saving an existing Shortcuts

document

The document is saved

in the same directory Press [Ctrl] and [s]
with the same name keys simultaneously

86
Saving a Document with a New Name
This procedure creates a new document

1. Browse the file and select the directory

where to store the document
Saving a document for
the first time 2. Give a name to the new document to create

3. Click Save button to confirm

Saving a document to
create a new one
(Creates a copy) Here, the document is stored in the same folder with a new name.
It is a CATPart type document (Part Design workbench)

87
Closing a Document
1

Click on File > Close...

... or on the Close icon

of the document
window

If changes have been made but not

2 saved, a pop-up window asks you if
you want to save changes

• Click on Yes, to save the changes,

• Click on No to close the document without saving the changes,
• Click on Cancel to keep the document open.

88
In this course you have become familiar with CATIA V5 user
interface by practicing basic manipulations and behaviours

You are now able to learn and practice

more advanced tools and products…

89