CATIA V5 Tips & Tricks

• Arrow Keys for hidden items selection: Hover over and area and then pick the up or down arrow on the keyboard, you will get a pop out allowing you to pick through a list of the items in that are in that immediate area (behind you arrow). Simply a very fast way to select things for operations.

• Hide/Show Specification Tree by using the F3 key.
• Turn off Tree Zoom: By default, CATIA will enter tree zoom mode after the user clicks on a branch of the tree, causing zoom and pan commands to alter the specification tree instead of the model. To disable this behavior, uncheck Tools > Options > General > Display > Tree Manipulation (tab) > Tree zoom after clicking on any branch.

• Sketch Analysis: Quickly find out where your sketch is under-defined. Easily identify gaps in your profile or duplicate entities

• In part design workbench, before applying Pattern command, first select the features then apply pattern command.

• To resize reference elements (Plane, Line & Point):

• If you try to click thesign in the specification tree but miss and click a branch instead, your model will get a darker shade and all your navigation functions, like panning and zooming, will affect the specification tree instead of the model.  The Options dialog box is used to customize this setting.

• Q: I'm trying to assemble a pocket (body) to the main partbody using boolean feature Assemble, however the pocket feature (body) does not become part of the original partbody and I get the message " You are trying to create a boolean operation between an ordered body (OGS or body) and a non-ordered body (GS or solid body). Operand body will not be moved under the boolean feature. Do you want to continue?" The company mandates one partbody per .catpart, Does anyone have any suggestions?

• A: It seems you are trying to assemble a hybrid body with a non-hybrid body. Probably the setting Tools - Options - Infrastructure - Part Infrastructure - Part Document - Hybrid Design was modified between the creation of both bodies. I guess the gears icons of the bodies have different color (yellow-green or grey-green). The setting should be kept with the value recommended by your company. There is no way to change a non-hybrid body into a hybrid one (nor vice versa). One of them must be recreated.

• Dynamic Sectioning: Part Design Workbench - View - Toolbars - Dynamic Sectioning
• How to select the axis of a cylinder: Right clicking a cylindrical face using the Other Selection... or Any Geometry command on the pop-up menu.

• Loaded Component: This is any open part. When an assembly file opened, all of its components open when Load referenced documents is activated within the Tool > Options > General > Referenced Documents section. 

• To carry out a Projection Distance: Choose Any geometry, infinite option from Selection 2 mode drop down menu. 

• When creating Length parameter insert mm unit after the value.

• To create parameters in assembly, click on Tools - Formula then from Filter Type  drop down menu select User parameters. Then click on New Parameter of type. Do not forget inserting unit after value.

• The macro function is a powerful tool when it comes to accomplishing a process that is repeated over and over especially with Design Table.
• To add a second row of text, select Shift + Enter

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