Links in CATIA Part 5: Links in 2D Detail Catalogs
Julie Cyrenne, Dassault Systemes

Introduction
Detail catalogs are used to store annotations and symbols that are used in drawings. It saves time to the designer and ensures standardization in the company. The first part of this article explores the links established in the catalog creation phase and the second part explores the links established in the catalog use phase.

2D Detail Catalog Creation
In the first place, the details are created in one or multiple CATDrawings. They may be organized in one or multiple detail sheets. The CATDrawings must be saved and kept opened in the CATIA session.

Secondly, the catalog document and its architecture are created using the chapters and families. Lastly, the ‘add component’ functionality is used to insert the details in the catalog. The ‘select external feature’ button allows the selection of the detail in the CATDrawing opened in session. This step is repeated for all details to insert in the catalog.

Once the catalog is completed, all the details are listed along with a preview of their content.

The Edit/ Links panel of the catalog shows a ‘Feature component’ link for each detail in the catalog pointing on the parent CATDrawing. This way, if the CATDrawing containing the detail definition is modified, the catalog will show a ‘not synchronized’ status for the corresponding detail. It is then possible to update the catalog by synchronizing the appropriate links.

It is possible to break the link from the catalog to the CATDrawing by selecting the isolate button in the Edit/ Links panel. Consequently, any modification to the CATDrawing details would not impact the details stored in the catalog.

2D Detail Catalog Use
When creating a drawing, it is possible to retrieve the details stored in the catalog using the catalog functionality .

Once a detail is instantiated, the Edit/ Links menu of the CATDrawing shows that a MML link is created for each instantiated detail. This way, if the catalog is updated, the Edit/ Links menu will indicate it and it is possible to synchronize the link to the latest detail.

It is also possible to break the link between the CATDrawing and its parent catalog. The first option is to sever the link to the catalog and have the detail become geometry and text by right-clicking on the detail and selecting the Detail.object/ Explode 2D component menu. The second option is to sever the link to the catalog and create a local detail (the detail is stored in the CATDrawing’s detail sheet and it drives all uses of that detail in the CATDrawing) by right-clicking on the detail and selecting the Detail.object/ Expose 2D component menu. In both cases, the MML link is no longer shown in the Edit/ Link panel and a modification in the catalog does not impact the CATDrawing.

Conclusion
There are ‘Feature component’ links created between the catalog and the source CATDrawing and ‘MML’ links between the catalog and the CATDrawing where the details are instantiated. By understanding those links, it is possible to manage whether those links are desirable in a given design context and to isolate them when appropriate. The next article will explore the links in the 3D catalogs.

A list of prior articles is provided for easy reference (http://www.coe.org/newsnet/Feb05/tips.cfm#1, http://www.coe.org/newsnet/Apr05/tips.cfm#1, http://www.coe.org/newsnet/Jun05/tips.cfm#1, http://www.coe.org/newsnet/aug05/tips.cfm#2).

Julie Cyrenne
Dassault Systemes
Julie Cyrenne