Category: Tips & Tricks Series

Common CATIA V5 Shortcuts & Customization

Posted on by Swapnil Deshmukh

For any CAD software, Model manipulation options are very important to improve the productivity & for ease of use. This article will introduce you to all these options below.

Model Manipulation with Mouse

Function Options using your Mouse
Pan Hold Middle Mouse B
Zoom Hold Middle Mouse B + Click Right B or

Hold Middle Mouse B + Click Left B
Rotate Hold Middle Mouse B + Hold Right B or

Hold Middle Mouse B + Hold Left B


Model Manipulation with Keyboard

Function Option using your Keyboard
Pan CTRL + RIGHT Arrow Key: Move the model to the right

CTRL + LEFT Arrow Key: Move the model to the Left

CTRL + TOP Arrow Key: Move the model to the Top

CTRL + BOTTOM Arrow Key: Move the model to the Bottom
Zoom CTRL + PAGE UP: ZOOM IN the model

CTRL + PAGE DOWN: ZOOM OUT the model
Rotate SHIFT + LEFT Arrow Key: rotate to the left

SHIFT + RIGHT Arrow Key: rotate to the right

SHIFT + UP Arrow Key: rotate upward

SHIFT + DOWN Arrow Key: rotate downward

Listed below are the CATIA V5 shortcut keys that users need to know.

Esc: Abort the current process or exit the current dialog box (when there is one)

  • F1: Get CATIA V5 assistance by launching the contextual help documentation
  • F3: Toggle specification tree display on and off
  • SHIFT – F1: Context assistance (Get help on toolbar icons)
  • SHIFT – F2: Toggle the specification tree overview on and off – opens an overview on specifications tree in a new window.
  • SHIFT – F3: Structure tree activate around e.g. character size to modify (activate the graph if the model is active and inversely)
  • ALT + F8: Macros start
  • ALT + F11: Visual basic editor
  • CTRL + SHIFT + Right arrow: ROTATE the model Clockwise
  • CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT arrow: ROTATE the model Anti Clockwise
  • CTRL + Tab: switch between the different windows (swap active document windows)
  • CTRL + N: New document open
  • CTRL + O: Document open
  • CTRL + S: Document save
  • CTRL + P: Document print
  • CTRL + F: Search
  • CTRL + U: Update
  • CTRL + X: Cut out
  • CTRL + V: Insert
  • CTRL + Y: Redo
  • CTRL + Z: Undo
  • CTRL + G: Selection Sets
  • ALT + Enter: Properties

Did you know that you can improve your CATIA speed and efficiency by using both hands? One hand can work the mouse while the other can use keyboard shortcuts.

Customize the Commands:

You can also create your own shortcuts for the frequently required commands by customizing them.

Tools>Customize

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Select the Command Tab. Select the appropriate Categories and select the command (Hide/Show) which you want to create short key.

Click Show Properties button. Type the key which you want to use as shortcut key. In this example space bar key is used in the Accelerator field.

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Now whenever you will press Space Bar key it will allow you to Hide/Show the selected elements.

Power input mode

 The power input box is located in the bottom right corner of the status bar:

Power input mode is a user-friendly productivity assistant allowing you to:

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  • Enter numeric data more easily in editable fields and spinners (but cannot be used in combo lists); as such, it is intended as an alternative to typing values in dialog boxes (dialog boxes are however still available).
  • Enter commands directly (by typing the c: followed by the name of the command).
  • Entering selection queries using the query language available when using Edit > Search.

Power input is available in certain (but not all) application commands. Note also that prefixes used to run commands or selection queries vary according to the language.

To activate power input mode, select Tools > Options, click the General tab, and click the P2 option, then restart your session.

Activate Action Pad

This task explains how to set up pad options in order to perform viewing operations using the Tablet Pen on a Tablet PC. Note that you can use the pad to visualize both 2D and 3D objects

Tools>Options>General>Devices & Virtual Reality

If this option is selected, it means that the pad display is activated in the geometry area. By default, the pad is displayed to the right as shown below:

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Ways to Avoid “Click Ok to Terminate” Error in CATIA V5

Posted on by Swapnil Deshmukh

This is a default runtime exception message which appears when CATIA terminates abruptly. This message can be changed by changing the text file content of file in installation directory:

installation directory\win_b64\resources\msgcatalog\CATAfrErrorCatcher.CATNls

There can be several reasons that trigger CATIA crash or ‘Click Ok to Terminate’ error. Below are some of the reasons of this error and the tips & ways on how to avoid this error.

Loading too much data (Memory Errors) : Whenever huge data is loaded in the system then CATIA may crash citing this error. It is a good practice to always load the required files only & close the files which are not required. You need to ensure to use the recommended RAM & recommended Graphics Cards. The list of recommended hardware is given in Dassault Systemes website.

  • DS supported workstation: Dassault Systemes has listed certified workstations which are already tested and published in this link : https://www.3ds.com/support/hardware-and-software/

    It is recommended to use DS Certified hardware to get good performance.
  • Recommended driver: Use recommended Drivers for Graphics Cards.
  • Large files can be loaded in visualization mode by turning Cache Activation mode on.

Ways to Avoid ‘Click Ok to Terminate’ in CATIA V5

Corrupted CATSettings: This could be resolved by deleting the CATSettings or using your correct back up CATSettings. The default path for CATSettings is as below.

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DassaultSystemes\CATSettings

Corrupt Geometry or Data: If you were performing certain tasks on part or assembly and CATIA crashes, there is a possibility that the data was not clean. In that case, you need to use CATDUA utility to clean the files by going to File>Desk. With right mouse click on the part you will see CATDUA V5 window. Once you click on CATDUA, you need to click run to clean the files with required priority. Check the below screen shots for more clarity.

Ways to Avoid ‘Click Ok to Terminate’ in CATIA V5-1

Ways to Avoid ‘Click Ok to Terminate’ in CATIA V5-2

Corrupt Drafting Standards XML file: Drafting Standards need to be changed in this scenario

Missing Drafting Standards XML file while creating a drawing: in this case, proper drafting standards files need to be specified.

CATIA Bugs:  There could be certain bugs in the application which may also cause problems. Please ensure to update Service Packs regularly.

Random weird stuff: It can be data specific error.

In case your CATIA application happens to crash, here is a tip on how you can protect and retrieve the data you been working on just before the crash

It is painful that you lose hours of work just because of a CATIA crash or a timed-out session. Voila, don’t worry! Here is what you need to do to avoid losing your data next time. In your CATIA session, go to CATIA tools option in the small windows popup, click General>General Tab Enable (select automatic backup) and adjust the interval XX (time in minutes).

By doing this, CATIA will perform an automatic backup each XX minute for you while you work in your CATIA session. In case CATIA crashes next time, when you restart the application you will be prompted “would you like to retrieve your unsaved data previously”. If you click yes, CATIA will retrieve last unsaved data.

Ways to Avoid ‘Click Ok to Terminate’ in CATIA V5-3

 

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