User Guide

Latest Release: Version V19.2

Using the Product

Default Translations

Default Translation – via the Unified Interface

The Unified Interface can be started via the Start Menu – if a shortcut was added during installation.

Alternatively, the Unified Interface can be run via a Windows Explorer selection in:

<UI_installation_directory>\bin\Unified_Interface.cmd

The following interface will be launched:

Unified Interface

The default layout is split into 4 primary areas, which can be altered to the users preference:

Unified Interface layout with labeled areas

The simplest way to translate from CATIA V5 to CREO is to drag a file from the file Browser Pane on to the Active Configurations for the translation you require.

Drag file to Active Configurations

On completion, the Unified Interface will display the activity information and details from the log file created during the translation, if requested, in the Translation Activity and Output Log panes, respectively.

The generated output data can be located by selecting the translation from the Activity pane and opening the output folder:

Output folder location

Default Translation – via the Command Line (CATIA V5 to CREO)

Running a translation via the command line can be carried out via the cad_run.cmd file located in the <installation_directory>\bin directory. The format of the command is as follows when translating from CATIA V5 to CREO:

<Translator_installation_directory>\bin\cad_run.cmd Catia5i_ProEngineerCR3 -i <input_file> -o <output_file>

Command line translation CATIA V5 to CREO

The example above will translate a CATIA V5 sample file provided within the installation and produce screen output similar to the following:

Command line output CATIA V5 to CREO

The file will be output to the target location. In this case:

%Theorem_Installation%\samples\catia5\NIST\nist_ctc_02_asme1_ct5210_rc.prt;1

Default Translation – via the Command Line (CREO to CATIA V5)

Running a translation via the command line can be carried out via the cad_run.cmd file located in the <installation_directory>\bin directory. The format of the command is as follows when translating from CREO to CATIA V5:

<Translator_installation_directory>\bin\cad_run.cmd ProEngineerCR3_Catia5i -i <input_file> -o <output_file>

Command line translation CREO to CATIA V5

The example above will translate a CREO sample file provided within the installation and produce screen output similar to the following:

Command line output CREO to CATIA V5

The file will be output to the target location. In this case:

%Theorem_Installation%\samples\proe\NIST_MBE_PMI_Creo_2\nist_ctc_02_asme1_cr2040_rc.CATPart

Translator Customization

The Theorem translator allows the information that is read from the source system and written to the target system to be tailored via a set of user specified arguments. Commonly used arguments are supported via the Unified Interface, with Advanced Arguments being described within this document for use in the Unified Interface or via the Command Line invocation.

Common Options for CATIA V5i to CREO

Within the Configuration Manager pane of the Unified Interface, arguments that can be specified when publishing CATIA V5 data into CREO are grouped into the following areas:

  • CATIA V5i Read – Those arguments that affect how data is read from CATIA V5

  • CREO Write – Those arguments that affect how the data is written to CREO

  • Masking – Additional Read/Write options to limit the types of data translated e.g. Solids Only

  • General – Those arguments that are common to ALL Publishing activities regardless of source data

CATIA V5i Read Arguments

The image below shows the CATIA V5I Read arguments that are available, with their default settings:

CATIA V5i Read arguments

Each of these options is described below:

Option

Description

Retain Assembly Structure

Retain the assembly structure. Default is ON.

Command Line Syntax:

  • offditto – to disable – reduces an assembly to a single Part

Read Face Colours

Process face colours in preference to body colours. Default is ON.

Command Line Syntax to turn off:

  • disable_face_colours

Read PMI

Reads PMI data from V5.

Command Line Syntax:

  • read_pmi

CREO Write Arguments

The image below shows the CREO Write arguments that are available, with their default settings:

CREO Write arguments

Each of these options is described below:

Option

Description

Simplify Geometry

Convert NURBS curves to analytics. Default is OFF.

Command Line Syntax:

  • simplify

Use existing Assembly Parts

Use any existing parts created by a previous translation.

Command Line Syntax:

  • use_parts

CATIA V5i to CREO Entity Mask Arguments

The image below shows the CATIA V5i to CREO Entity Mask arguments that are available, with their default settings:

CATIA V5i to CREO Entity Mask arguments

Each of these options is described below:

Option

Description

Mask File

Specifies the Mask File to be written to, that can be referenced by future translations. A Mask file MUST be specified if masking is required. The first line in this file is OFF ALL ENT:

Command Line Syntax:

  • Mask <filename>

Entity Types Translated

Specifies a selection list from which to select which entity types are to be processed. The following types are available:

  • “POI” – Masks any 0D entity

  • “CUR” – Masks any 1D entity

  • “SKIN” – Masks any 2D entity

  • “SOL” – Masks any 3D entity

  • “ISOL” – Masks Isolated facetted solids

  • “TEXT” – Masks PMI Text

  • “AXIS” – Masks Axis Systems

Command Line Syntax:

  • Add any of the above to the specified mask file, one entry per line prefixed by the word ON

    e.g.:

    ON POI

    to ensure they are considered in the translation

Layers Translated

Specifies a selection list from which to select which layers are to be processed.

Command Line Syntax:

  • A single entry of ON ALL LAY Must precede any Layer Mask command.

  • Add a list or range of numbers representing layer to be processed to the specified mask file to ensure they are NOT considered in the translation

    e.g.:

    OFF LAY 114,149,166,167,168

Convert No Show Geometry

Enables Hidden Geometry to be processed (Default = Off).

Command Line Syntax:

  • Add the following entry to the Mask file

    ON NOSHOW

Convert No Show Structure

Enables Hidden Assembly Structure to be processed (Default = Off).

Command Line Syntax:

  • Add the following entry to the Mask file

    ON NOSHOW STR

Convert No Show PMI

Enables Hidden PMI to be processed (Default = Off).

Command Line Syntax:

  • Add the following entry to the Mask file

    ON NOSHOW PMI

CATIA V5i to CREO General Arguments

The image below shows the General arguments that are available, with their default settings:

CATIA V5i to CREO General arguments

Each of these options is described below:

Option

Description

Mass Properties

CATIA V5 mass properties (volume/area CofG) are read and any applied materials, using this option, in cases where a part has multiple solids, volume and area values are summed, but CofG data is invalid.

Command Line Syntax:

  • mprops

Advanced

Allows any of the Command Line Advanced arguments documented to be passed to the Unified Interface invocation.

Common Options for CREO to CATIA V5i

Within the Configuration Manager pane of the Unified Interface, arguments that can be specified when publishing CREO into CATIA V5 data are grouped into the following areas:

  • CREO Read – Those arguments that affect how data is read from CREO

  • Catia5i Write – Those arguments that affect how the data is written to Catia5

  • General – Those arguments that are common to ALL Publishing activities regardless of source data

CREO Read Arguments

The image below shows the CATIA V5I Read arguments that are available, with their default settings:

CREO Read arguments

Each of these options is described below.

Option

Description

Transfer Solids

Enables solid processing. (Default is on).

Command Line Syntax:

  • no_solids – to turn off

Transfer Quilts

Enables quilt processing. (Default is on).

Command Line Syntax:

  • no_quilts – to turn off

Transfer Datum Curves

Enables solid processing. (Default is on).

Command Line Syntax:

  • no_datum_curves – to turn off

Transfer Datum Surfaces

Enables solid processing. (Default is on).

Command Line Syntax:

  • no_datum_surfaces – to turn off

Retain assembly structure

This will retain the structure of an assembly. (Default is on).

Command Line Syntax:

  • Noditto – to turn off

Read Blanked Layers

Reads all layers, including blanked layers. (Default is off).

Command Line Syntax:

  • Layer ALL – to turn on

Catia V5i Write Arguments

The image below shows the CATIA V5I Write arguments that are available, with their default settings:

Catia V5i Write arguments

Each of these options is described below:

Option

Description

Save Catia5 Version

Save a specified version of Catia5 data (default R25 (2015)).

Command Line Syntax:

  • save_catia5_version <version>

Where versions are:

  • 16

  • 17

  • 18

  • 19

  • 20

  • 21

  • 22 or 2012

  • 23 or 2013

  • 24 or 2014

  • 25 or 2015

disable_points

Prevents point entities from being written.

Command Line Syntax:

  • disable_points

disable_wireframe

Prevents wireframe entities from being written.

Command Line Syntax:

  • disable_wireframe

Create CGR

Writes data as a CGR file.

Command Line Syntax:

  • Create_CGR

CREO to CATIA V5i General Arguments

The image below shows the General arguments that are available, with their default settings:

CREO to CATIA V5i General arguments

The option is described below:

Option

Description

Mass Properties

CATIA V5 mass properties (volume/area CofG) are read and any applied materials, using this option, in cases where a part has multiple solids, volume and area values are summed, but CofG data is invalid.

Command Line Syntax:

  • mprops

Advanced

Allows any of the Command Line Advanced arguments documented below to be passed to the Unified Interface invocation.

Command Line Advanced Arguments

Any of the Advanced arguments can be added to the Command Line Invocation or to the General->Advanced field when run from within the User Interface.

CATIA V5i to CREO Advanced Arguments

Option

Description

Simplify Curves

Convert NURBS curves to conics. Default is OFF.

Command Line Syntax:

  • simplify_curve

Convert Curves to NURBS

Convert curves to NURBS. Default is OFF.

Command Line Syntax:

  • convert_curves

Conversion Tolerance (Curves)

A secondary argument to ‘Convert Curves’ defining the conversion tolerance. Default is 0.00001.

Command Line Syntax:

  • convert_curve_tol 0.00001

Convert Surfaces to NURBS

Process data (read) types as NURBS. Data type is selected from options. Default is Fillets.

Command Line Syntax:

  • None: dont_convert_fillets

  • Fillets: Default Option.

  • Spheres: dont_convert_fillets convert_spheres

  • Fillets + Spheres: convert_spheres

  • All: convert_surfaces

Convert Torus to NURBS

Even when data is read as NURBS data, the Torus types are converted to NURBS by default, this can be disabled using the command line.

Command Line Syntax:

  • dont_convert_torus

Conversion Tolerance (Surfaces)

A secondary option to ‘Convert Surfaces to NURBS’. Defines the conversion tolerance. Default is 0.00001.

Command Line Syntax:

  • convert_surface_tol 0.00001

Trim Face Surfaces

Trims face surfaces. Default is ON.

Command Line Syntax:

  • dont_trim_surfaces

Process Large Faces

Enable reading of faces larger than 1km. Default is OFF.

Command Line Syntax:

  • allow_large_faces

UDF Axis Systems

Enable reading of User Defined Axis systems. Default is OFF.

Command Line Syntax:

  • read_udf_axis – to turn on

Graphical Read

By default the BREP data will be read. It is possible to read the CATIA V5 data as a graphical representation using this option.

Command Line Syntax:

  • enable_graphical

Filter Geometry

It is possible to filter large planes (construction planes) larger than a given size using (default being 1000 meters).

Command Line Syntax:

  • filter_large_geom <meters>

There is a special case for PLANES (typically construction planes) which by default are not read, these can be enabled using:

Command Line Syntax:

  • read_planes

CREO to CATIA V5i Advanced Arguments

This section will be updated in a future release.

Advanced Option

Description