Copying V4 Model Data to CATIA V5

This task shows you how to copy the specifications or geometry of a CATIA Version 4 model to CATIA Version 5.
The following data can be copied from CATIA Version 4 to CATIA Version 5:
  • surfaces (both polynomial and BSpline)
  • faces,
  • volumes,
  • skins and exact solids
  • mockup solids (see remarks regarding copy/pasting mockup solids below),
  • polyhedral surfaces and solids,
  • circles,
  • ellipses,
  • points,
  • lines,
  • planes,
  • clouds of points,
  • edges,
  • parabolas,
  • hyperbolas,
  • curves (both polynomial and BSpline),
  • CCVs,
  • NURBs (curves and surfaces),
  • PIP elements (Tubing),
  • GPR elements (AEC Primitives),
  • STR elements (planar structures, linear structures).
The following task describes how an entire model is pasted from Version 4 to Version 5. You can also select the geometric elements listed above and insert them into an already existing Version 5 document.
Open a .model.
  1. Open a new CATIA Version 5 CATPart document.

  2. In the specification tree or geometry area where the Version 4 model is displayed, select the geometrical element or elements you wish to convert.

  3. If you intend to copy the geometry you can either:

  • drag and drop the elements onto the appropriate location in the CATIA Version 5 document
  • or: click the Copy icon , select the Edit>Copy command or select the Copy command in the contextual menu and click the Paste icon or select the Edit>Paste command or select the Paste command in the contextual menu.
  1. If you intend to copy the specifications:

  • use the same methods as above,

  • in the Edit menu, select the Paste Special... command or select the Paste Special... contextual command.

The Paste Special dialog box below appears:

  • Select CATIA_SPEC and click OK. This operation recovers the specifications previously put in the clipboard.
  1. Click the Update icon to view the copied data or use Edit > Update.

If you copied the geometry the result should look something like this (using the Window > Tile Horizontally command):

If you copied the specifications, the result should look something like this (using the Window>Tile Horizontally command):

Bear in mind the following when copying / pasting:
  • The migration of V4 model data to a V5 document generates a report (.rpt) file named after the model migrated:
  • on Windows: in C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\DassaultSystemes\CATReport
  • on UNIX: in /u/users/username/CATReport , but this depends on the path setting in env file.
If you used the CATIA_SPEC option mentioned above note that only the paste operation is included in the report i.e. the actual update of the CATPart document is not taken into account.
For more information about the usage of the V4/V5 BREP Info Checker, please refer to Comparison of Result Option in Batch: V4/V5 BREP Info Checker.
When copy/pasting mockup solids: If the solid has a history then the V5 specifications are created. However, if the solid has no history or if the CATIA_RESULT option is selected (using the Paste Special... command) then a cgr file is generated containing the visualization information of the solid. The name of this file is "mymodel_SOLMxxx" and is located in the same directory as the V4 CATIA model. This file can be inserted into the Product Structure application.

When copy/pasting sets of surfaces : If you want to get a unique surface in V5, it is more efficient to perform the join in V4 before the migration than in V5 on the resulting surfaces.

   
  To sum up:
 

V4 to V5 Migration

As Result As Spec
SPACE Elements
Infrastructure - Structural Entities
Model CATProduct, CATPart and/or CATDrawing
Session CATProduct
Library  (SPACE Detail) Catalogs of Parts
Assembly Files CATProduct & Assembly Constraints
Detail used for Ditto In the interactive mode, with the copy / paste AS RESULT of Dittos, the elements of the linked Detail are copied AS RESULT, updated, and put into the No Show space.

In the Batch Mode, the elements of the linked Detail are copied AS RESULT.

In the interactive mode, with the copy / paste AS SPEC of Dittos, the elements of the linked Detail are copied AS SPEC, updated, and put in the No Show space.

In the Batch Mode, you get a V5 Part or a Product.

Ditto In the interactive mode, the Dittos are represented in the Part by a link on the bodies managed by the copy AS RESULT operation of the Detail elements.

In the Batch Mode, the Dittos are represented in the Part by a link on the bodies managed by the copy AS RESULT operation of the Detail elements.

In the interactive mode, the Dittos are represented in the Part by a link on the bodies managed by the Copy AS SPEC of the Detail elements.

In the Batch Mode, you get a V5 Part or a Product.

Detail for Macro-Primitives N/A In the interactive mode, for the copy / paste AS SPEC of a solid using Macro-Primitives, the elements of the linked Detail are copied AS SPEC, updated, and put in the No Show space.
Macro-Primitives In the interactive mode, the solid who contains the Macro-Primitive is copied AS RESULT: it means that only its BRep is copied, without specifications. In the interactive mode, the Macro-Primitives are represented within the specifications tree of the body by links with the copy AS SPEC of the Detail elements.
Layers The layer's numbers are transferred but not the filters. The layer's numbers are transferred but not the filters.
Geometric sets You get a V5 Part. All the elements of the Set are migrated. You get a V5 Part. All the elements of the Set are migrated.
Transformation N/A Affects Specifications
Show/No Show The Show / No Show characteristic is respected.
Dittos (*DIT) in No Show are not migrated.
Macro-Primitives in No Show are not migrated.
The Show / No Show characteristic is respected.
Dittos (*DIT) in No Show are not migrated.
Macro-Primitives in No Show are not migrated.
Color Tables Color Tables
Display Types (graphic) N/A
Models Naming V5 document Names
Models Comments Product Description Property
Tolerances N/A