Current Help System: Direct CAD Interfaces (View Core Help)

#### Import a CATIA CAD File

1. Select the
   File | Direct CAD Interfaces ® | CATIA menu option. An Open dialog box appears.

2. Select CATIA Files DCI from the Files of type list.

3. Navigate to the directory containing your CATIA part files.

4. Select a CATIA part file.

5. Click the Import button. The Catia Get Model dialog box opens.

6. Type in the appropriate directory or alias information if needed.

7. Click the Get Model Names button. A list of the CATIA models appears.

8. Select the CATIA model name or names (up to 20) from the list.

9. Click the OK button. PC-DMIS imports the file.

10. Use PC-DMIS as usual.

Connection Failure: If PC-DMIS can't connect to the Catia workstation, it will display a message informing you and it will also ask if you want to change your TCP/IP settings. Clicking Yes will open up the Edit TCP/IP Properties dialog box, allowing you to modify your TCP/IP and port settings.

Note: If you want to be able to use the DCI without connecting to the CAD system, you can easily specify this by modifying the CatiaLoad registry entry.

To do this:

1. Open the Settings Editor.

2. Click on the plus sign (+) next to the Catia section. The list expands.

3. Modify the CatiaLoad entry by setting it to FALSE

4. Save and close the Settings Editor when you are finished modifying it.

PC-DMIS won't even attempt to connect to the CAD system, but will instead give you the option of loading a saved .CAD view.

Additionally, in PC-DMIS 3.5 MR2 and higher a Translate Model check box exists on the CATIA Get Model dialog box. This check box translates the CATIA model into PC-DMIS's native format. The CATIA server is not needed if you use this check box.