Opening Existing Documents Using the Browse Window

This task shows you how to use the Browse window which provides alternate methods to access your documents.
  This window will appear in addition to the File Selection dialog box when using the commands listed below, provided you have allowed the necessary document environments in Tools > Options > General > Document:
  • File->Open...
  • Edit->Links...
  • Replace Component
  • Instantiate From Document
  • Catalog Browser.

The list of document access methods available from the Browse window will vary according to the document environments you defined.

Open the document Links.CATProduct.
  1. Select Tools > Options then the General category and finally, the Document tab:

    The Document Environments area lets you define the method(s) you will use to access your documents by allowing the desired environment(s) selected from the list.
    These document environments are:
    • Folder: default document environment (indicated by the status "Current") in which the dialog accesses the folders containing the documents
    • DLName: document environment which lets you restrict the access to specific folders referenced by logical names referred to as "DLNames".
    • SmarTeam Query: lets you access SmarTeam projects stored in SmarTeam - CATIA Integration using queries
    • ENOVIA: lets you access documents stored in ENOVIA V5
    • SmarTeam: lets you access SmarTeam projects stored in SmarTeam - CATIA Integration
    • SMARTEAM (CWI): lets you access documents stored in SMARTEAM CATIA Web Integration
    • Catalog: lets you access documents stored in catalogs
    • Sourcing Search: lets you access documents stored in Sourcing for Direct Material (SDM)
    • Loaded document: lets you access documents loaded in the current session.
  2. To allow a document environment, select it from the list then click Allowed. Repeat this step as many times as necessary to allow the desired document environments.

    For detailed information on document environments, refer to the Document tab (section entitled "Document Environment" in the Version 5 - Infrastructure User's Guide).
  3. Click OK to validate and close the panel.

  4. Select Edit > Links.

  5. Select the item to be replaced then click Replace.

    The File Selection dialog box and the Browse window (displayed in the background) open simultaneously as shown below:

  6. Click Cancel to close the File Selection dialog box and activate the Browse window:

    Note that the icons displayed in the Browse window will vary with the document environments you have allowed in step 2. The above picture is just an example.
    In addition to that, some methods are discarded by default when using specific commands because they are not relevant (for instance, "Catalog" is not available from the Catalog Browser command).
    Bear also in mind that other methods may be discarded by your Version 5 administrator and thus, may impact the look of the Browse window.
  7. Select the desired method by clicking the appropriate button:

    • Logical File System
      Lets you access the folders containing documents using DLNames. This method implies that DLNames have been previously defined in the Document settings, otherwise a warning message appears.
      After clicking Logical File System, the following dialog box opens:

    Refer to the Document tab (section entitled "DLName Integration") to learn how to define DLNames and use the File Selection dialog box in the Version 5 - Infrastructure User's Guide.

    • File
      Opens the usual File Selection dialog box which lets you browse your folders containing the documents:

    Refer to "Opening Existing Documents" in the Version 5 - Infrastructure User's Guide for detailed information on this dialog box.

    • Catalog
      Opens a catalog browser which lets you browse then instantiate components stored in catalogs:

    Note that after clicking the button to access the document to be browsed, you must select the type "*.catalog" from the "Files of type" list before selecting the element you want to instantiate.

    For detailed information on the Catalog Browser, refer to "Browsing a Catalog Using the Catalog Browser" in the Version 5 - Component Catalog Editor User's Guide.

    • Loaded document
      Opens the Session document dialog box which enables you to preview and select documents opened in your current Version 5 session:

    Note the following:

    • in the context of the Edit > Links... command, the selected element opens and replaces the element highlighted in the first place and the new element name is displayed in the Links dialog box.
      Refer to "Editing Document Links" in the Version 5 - Infrastructure User's Guide for detailed information on links between documents
    • in the context of the catalog browser, the object to be accessed must be of type "*.catalog".
      The selected catalog then opens in the browser.
    • ENOVIA V5
      Lets you perform a query for document-type objects in the ENOVIA V5 database.
      This document environment is only available with a VPM Navigator license.
    • SmarTeam
      Lets you access documents stored in SmarTeam.
      This document environment is only available with a SmarTeam license.
    • SmarTeam Query
      Lets you access SmarTeam projects stored in SmarTeam - CATIA Integration using queries.
      This document environment is only available with a SmarTeam license.
  8. Once you have accessed the desired document, click OK or Open (depending on the method) to validate.