CATIA Reader

Supported Entities

Entities supported the CATIA readers.

CATIA v4 Reader

Supported entities.

Point (type 1)
Line segment (type 2)
Parametric curve (type 3)
Conics (types 20-23)
Composite curve (type 24)
Parametric surface (type 5)
Face (type 6)
Volume (type 7)
Coordinate system (type 8)
Skin (type 13)
Mock-up solids (type 17-1)
Exact solids (type 17-2)
Ditto (type 28)

CATIA v5 Reader

Supported entities.

Free points
Free curves
Surfaces
Skin bodies
Solid bodies
Facets/triangles
Infinite planes
Coordinate systems
Publications
Composite data
Parts (.CatPart)
Assemblies (.CatProduct)

Entities that are part of other entities are not created as independent entities.

Entities with non-Latin characters in their names are supported.

CATIA v6 Reader

Supported entities.

Free points
Free curves
Surfaces
Skin bodies
Solid bodies
Facets/triangles
Infinite planes
Coordinate systems
Parts (.3Dxml, .3DRep)
Assemblies (.3Dxml)

Entities that are part of other entities are not created as independent entities.

Entities with non-Latin characters in their names are supported.

Import Options

The CATIA v5 and CATIA v4 readers use the ct_reader.ini file.

`@AttributesAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Import all generic attributes (global and related to single entities) as metadata.
`off`	Do not import attributes related to single entities. Only import global attributes.
`%attribute1%attribute2%attribute3`	Import specified generic attributes as metadata. The attribute names are listed, separated by a character that you choose, and inserted as the first element of the string. The example uses '%' as a separator. You can choose another character as a separator, in case one of the listed attribute names contains '%'. HyperMesh will recognize it as it is the first character of the string.

`@AvoidThirdPartyConversion`
Value	Description
`on`	Avoid using the conversion functions provided by third-party (default).
`off`	Use the conversion functions provided by third-party.

`@BodyIdAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Assign body identifier as metadata. `BODY_ID`
`off`	Do not assign body identifier as metadata (default).

`@CleanupTol`
Value	Description
`double`	A negative value (default) indicates to use the auto cleanup tolerance. A value greater than the calculated auto cleanup tolerance indicates to use that specific tolerance. Refer to the CAD Import Options.

`@ColorsAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`integer`	Read color attributes of geometric entities as metadata with integer values. `COLOR_RGB`
`on`	Same as integer.
`off`	Do not read color attributes (default).

`@CreationType`
Value	Description
`Parts`	Generate a full part-based hierarchy.
`BOMOnly`	Generate an empty part-based hierarchy.
`TreeOfComponents`	Generate an assemblies/components based hierarchy.
`PackIntoSinglePart`	Consolidate hierarchy into a single part.

`@DensityAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Read density value as metadata (default). `DENSITY`
`off`	Do not read density value.

`@DisableSurfaceRelimination`
Value	Description
`on`	Disable the third party algorithm for performing base surface trimming during import. This option should be used in conjunction with `@ShrinkSurfaces`.
`off`	Do not disable the third party algorithm (default).

`@DoNotMergeEdges`
Value	Description
`on`	Preserve the original geometry edges, instead of merging them together during the import cleanup phase.
`off`	Merge edges together during the import cleanup phase (default).

`@FullNameAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Generate the full CAD name, as retrieved from the CAD part, as metadata. This consists of assembly name/part name/feature name/entity name. `FULL_IDENTIFIER`
`off`	Do not generate full name metadata (default).

`@ImportBlanked`
Value	Description
`on`	Enable the import of invisible (blanked/NO SHOW) components. This option, when used, takes priority over any other similar options/settings.
`off`	Disable the import of invisible (blanked/NO SHOW) components (default). This option, when used, takes priority over any other similar options/settings.

`@ImportCoordinateSystems`
Value	Description
`on`	Import CAD coordinate systems as system collectors (default).
`off`	Do not import CAD coordinate systems.

`@ImportForVisualizationOnly`
Value	Description
`on`	Import the model for visualization purposes only. This skips many of the import steps (cleanup, stitching, solid creation, and so on) to provide a faster import. The resulting model may not be suitable for other uses.
`off`	Import the model in the normal fashion (default).

`@ImportFreeCurves`
Value	Description
`on`	Import free curves (wireframe entities) into the model (default).
`off`	Do not import free curves.

`@ImportFreePoints`
Value	Description
`on`	Import free points into the model (default).
`off`	Do not import free points.

`@ImportPublicationData`
Value	Description
`on`	Create regions from the geometry referenced in publications.
`off`	Do not create regions from the geometry referenced in publications (default).

`@InfinitePlaneSizeFactor`
Value	Description
`double`	A factor > 0 for sizing of infinite planes. The factor is a percentage of the modal size. The default is 0.5.

`@LayerAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Read layer value as metadata. `LAYER`
`off`	Do not read layer value (default).

`@LegacyHierarchyAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Generate metadata with the original CAD hierarchy within the part. `LEGACY_HIERARCHY`
`off`	Do not generate metadata with the original CAD hierarchy within the part (default).

`@MaterialName`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing the PDM material name info of the current part. Default is "Material".

`@MetadataPrefix`
Value	Description
`string`	The string is prefixed to all metadata names. No prefix is used by default. See CAD Metadata Naming for more details.

`@MeshFlag`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing the PDM mesh flag name info of the current part. Default is "MeshFlag".

`@MID`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing the PDM material ID info of the current part. Default is "MID".

`@OriginalIdAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Import original CAD entity IDs as metadata. `ORIGINAL_ID`
`off`	Do not import original CAD entity IDs as metadata (default).

`@PartNumber`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing the PDM part number info of the current part. Default is "PartNumber”.

`@PID`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing PDM property ID info of the current part. Default is "PID”.

`@PlyContourGapTolerance`
Value	Description
`double`	Acceptable gap between curves of a ply contour (default 0.3). Meaningful if `@ReadCompositeData` is enabled.

`@ReadCompositeData`
Value	Description
`on`	Import CATIAV5 composite data.
`off`	Do not import CATIAV5 composite data (default).

`@ReadHiddenPlyBaseSurfaces`
Value	Description
`on`	Read hidden ply base surfaces. Meaningful if `@ReadCompositeData` is enabled.
`off`	Do not read hidden ply base surfaces (default).

`@RemoveTinySegInCompositeCurves`
Value	Description
`on`	Remove small segments present in composite curves and closes the gap by modifying the adjacent segments, while minimizing the distortion.
`off`	Do not remove small segments present in composite curves.

`@Revision`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing PDM major revision info of the current part. Default is "Revision”.

`@ScaleFactor`
Value	Description
`double`	Define the model scaling factor during import. Default is 1.0.

`@ShrinkSurfaces`
Value	Description
`on`	For trimmed surfaces, shrink the corresponding base surfaces to only enclose the extents of the external trimming contour, plus a narrow frame.
`off`	Do not modify the base surfaces (default).

`@SkipCreationOfSolid`
Value	Description
`on`	Read surfaces, but do not create solid entities.
`off`	Create solid entities (default).

`@SplitComponents`
Value	Description
`Body`	Generate body-based component (default if `CreationType`=`Parts`).
`Layer`	Generate layer-based component.
`Part`	Generate part-based component.
`General`	Keep component as in CAD (default if `CreationType`=`TreeOfComponents`).

`@StitchingAcrossBodies`
Value	Description
`on`	Stitch surfaces belonging to different components.
`off`	Do not stitch surfaces belonging to different components (default).

`@TagsAsMetadata`
Value	Description
`on`	Create entity name as metadata (default). `TAG`
`FromBody`	Take entity from its parent body and create as metadata. `TAG`
`off`	Do not read tags.

`@TargetUnits`
Value	Description
`CAD units`	Keep the units of the CAD files (default for GUI).
`MKS [m kg N s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MMKS [mm kg N s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MPA [mm t N s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`CGS [cm g dyn s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MMKNMS [mm kg kN ms]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`MMGNMS [mm g N ms]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`IPS Std [in pounds lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`IPS Grav [in slinch lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`FPS Std [ft pounds lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`FPS Grav [ft slug lbf s]`	Convert to the corresponding units system.
`Scale factor`	Apply the corresponding scale factor (default for no GUI to allow supporting legacy scripts).

`@ThicknessName`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing the PDM thickness info of the current part. Default is "Thickness".

`@TrimPlySurfaces`
Value	Description
`on`	Trim ply surfaces when a ply points to one surface only. Meaningful if `@ReadCompositeData` is enabled.
`off`	Do not trim ply surfaces (default).

`@UID`
Value	Description
`string`	Name of the CAD attribute containing the PDM UID info of the current part. Default is "UID".

There is also the possibility to specify a default search path for files referenced by assemblies via the CT_DefaultPartPath environment variable.

By default, the referenced files will be read from the locations referenced in the assembly files.

If a referenced file cannot be found:

If the CT_DefaultPartPath environment variable is not defined, an attempt will be made to locate the file in the directory where the assembly exists.
If the CT_DefaultPartPath environment variable is defined, an attempt will be made to locate the file in the directories defined by the environment variable, following the order the directories are given (directories separated by semi-colons).

Supported Metadata

Metadata generated from the CATIA reader.

`BODY_ID`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs	Identifier of the CAD body containing the entity. Generated when `@BodyIDAsMetadata`=`on`

`COLOR_RGB`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	comps, assems if hierarchy as Assemblies; parts if hierarchy as Parts	Three RGB values, ranging from 0 to 255, indicating the color of the entity in the CAD model. Generated when `@ColorsAsMetadata = on`

`COMMENT_BLOCK`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	assems	The command block text for a CATIA v4 file. This is only attached to the root assembly.

`COORDINATE_SYSTEM_<name>`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	assems	The `<name>` field is the name of the local coordinate system and the value is the local coordinate system information.

`DENSITY`
Type	Entities	Description
`double`	solids	The value of the density of a solid. Generated when `@DensityAsMetadata = on`

`FULL_IDENTIFIER`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs solids comps assems	A string indicating the name in the following format: `"part_name/name"` Generated when `@FullNameAsMetadata = on`

`LAYER`
Type	Entities	Description
`integer`	points lines surfs solids	Value of the layer of an entity. Generated when `@LayerAsMetadata`=`on`

`LEGACY_HIERARCHY`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs	Hierarchy of an entity within a part. Generated when `@LegacyHierarchyAsMetadata`=`on`

`MODELUNIT`
Type	Entities	Description
`integer`	comps if hierarchy as Assemblies; parts if hierarchy as Parts	Model units specified in the CAD file. 1 = inches 2 = millimeters 4 = feet 5 = miles 6 = meters 7 = kilometers 8 = mils 9 = microns 10 = centimeters 11 = microinches 12 = decimeters 13 = yards This is always generated.

`ORIGINAL_ID`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs solids parts	The original CAD entity ID. Generated when `@OriginalIdAsMetadata = on`

`TAG`
Type	Entities	Description
`string`	points lines surfs solids	The tag (name) of the entity as read from the CAD model, if one exists. Generated when `@TagsAsMetadata = on`