Creating a Design Table from a Pre-existing File  

A design table is a feature that you create using your document parameters or external data. No matter the existence of external data, the design table must created in CATIA. There are two ways to create a design table: 
  • Using the current parameter values 
  • Using a pre-existing file

The scenario below describes how to proceed in the second case. Here are the main steps to follow:

  1. Select the pre-existing file containing the raw data.
  2. Create the associations between the document parameters and the external table columns. You can choose to create these associations automatically.
  3. Edit the generated CATIA design table.
  4. Select a configuration in the generated design table. You can modify the default configuration proposed by CATIA.
  5. Apply the design table feature to your document.

For information on how to use the different dialog boxes related to the design table, see The Design Table Dialog.
It is now possible to select a Design Table external file from a VPDM (ENOVIA V5 VPM, ...). To do so, make sure you have enabled the desired environment in the Document Environments field (Tools>Options>General>Document.) Your documents will be accessible via the Document Chooser.

  1. Open the KwrStartDocument.CATPart document.

  2. Click the  Design Table icon () in the standard toolbar.
    The Creation of a Design Table dialog box is displayed. Enter a name (DesignTable1 for example) and a comment.

  3. Check Create a design table from a pre-existing file. Click OK.

  4. Select the KwrBallBearing.xls file, and click Open. A dialog box asks you whether  you want to perform automatic associations between the design table columns and the document parameters which have the same name. 

  5. Click Yes. The Material parameter is the only one which is common to the document parameters and to the external design table. A multirow design table is created. The '<' and '>' symbols denote the current configuration.

  6. Select the configuration you want to apply to the document (line 4 for example). Click Apply.
    The Iron parameter value is displayed in the specification tree.

  7. Click OK to end the design table creation.

The scenario below illustrates how to create a design table by associating one by one the document parameters with the input file columns.

  1. Open the KwrStartDocument.CATPart document.

  2. Click the Design Table icon  in the standard toolbar.
    The "Creation of a Design Table" dialog box is displayed. Enter a name (DesignTable2 for example) and a comment.

  3. Check Create a design table from a pre-existing file. Click OK. A file selection window is displayed.

  4. Select the KwrBallBearing.xls file. Click Open. The Automatic associations dialog box is displayed.

  5. Click No. The design table dialog box informs you that there is no associations between parameters and columns.

    Now, you have to associate one by one the document parameters with the design table columns.

  6. Click Associations.  The table design dialog box now displays side by side the document parameter list and the input file columns. 

  7. From the Parameters list, select the PartBody\Hole.1\Diameter item. In the Columns list, select the d1 parameter. Then click Associate. A parameter couple is now displayed in the Associations between parameters and columns list.

  8. Repeat the same operation for the Material parameter.

    Selecting a parameter or an association in the list highlights the corresponding values in the geometry area.

    The parameter list can be filtered:

    • By clicking on a feature (either in the specification tree or in the geometry area). All the parameter values of the selected feature (and children) are highlighted in the geometry area. The parameter list displays only the parameters of the selected features (and children).

    • By specifying a string in the Filter Name field. For example, typing *ength* enables you to display all Length parameters

    • By specifying a type in the Filter Type field.

    Create parameters...  allows you to create automatically parameters and associations for items of the Columns list. The Rename associated parameters button replaces the parameter name with the column name.

  9. Click OK to end the DesignTable2 creation dialog.
    The DesignTable2 feature is added as a relation to the specification tree. Double-click DesignTable2 in the specification to edit the table. By default, the configuration 1 is applied to the document. A new material (Aluminum) is applied to the document and the hole diameter is modified.You can select another configuration and apply it to your document.