Addressed by Panelist Ove Schuett
ANSWER: V6 is able to read V5 and V4 data, of course. CATIA V6 is built upon the CATIA V5 geometry kernel, and the V5 transition process maps all CATProducts and other V5 data elements into the V6 data structure.
Whether a company feels the value in migrating the models into V6 depends on their work processes and how their product lifecycle management solutions have been implemented. V6 will support hybrid scenarios and will support design in context, digital mockup and other capabilities in mixed V4/V5 and V6 environments. Modifications of V5 data, referred back to its original designer, for instance, will be made in the original design context (i.e. V5).
ANSWER: V6 is able to read V5 and V4 data, of course. CATIA V6 is built upon the CATIA V5 geometry kernel, and the V5 transition process maps all CATProducts and other V5 data elements into the V6 data structure.
Whether a company feels the value in migrating the models into V6 depends on their work processes and how their product lifecycle management solutions have been implemented. V6 will support hybrid scenarios and will support design in context, digital mockup and other capabilities in mixed V4/V5 and V6 environments. Modifications of V5 data, referred back to its original designer, for instance, will be made in the original design context (i.e. V5).