IMPORTANT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

CATIA V5- SPECIFICATION TREE

      The Specification Tree is located on the left part of the screen. Like the “Windows        Explorer” tree, you can expand or contract the Specification Tree by clicking on nodes

  (+ or – signs).  

 

       It contains all the operations done during your design session (parts creation,boolean   operations,partcopies,symmetry,etc.) These operations are easily retraceable because they each have a different icon. First-made operations are located higher in the tree than the last-made ones.The same hierarchy than the tree of Windows Explorer is used : by deleting upper-level features,you will also delete all downward-level elements.

       It is important to pay attention to the icons in the specification tree. A small specific sign can appear on the icon to let us know that some features need an update,have a broken link,are deactivated,etc
.

       Every CATIA workbench has its own specific way of showing the Specification tree (i.e. the current workbench show the tree in a relevant way to work with, hiding or showing new information usable to that workbench only). For example, when you are in the  Part Design workbench, the main branch of the tree is Part X ( where X is a number ) while in the Assembly Design workbench, the main branch of the tree is Product X.

       By right clicking on an object of the tree, you have access to some operations like         cut,copy,paste,properties,etc.

       By left clicking on the white branches of the Specification Tree, you deactivate the Geometric Area (it then becomes dark blue ) so that zooming,panning and moving will now affect the Specification Tree instead of the Geometric Area. To reactivate the Geometric area,left-click a second time on a white branch of the Specification Tree.

                               CATIA V5- GEOMETRIC AREA 

This is the place where you are drawing, designing and analyzing. It covers the whole screen but is always placed behind the Specification Tree.

Left-clicking : Selecting components (face, edge, hole, etc.).

Holding left button : Allow you to drag components (if they are outlined in

orange when you start dragging them) or to create a “selection trap” to

select more then one object.

Left-button double-click: Re-open feature Dialog box for modification of a

feature).

Clicking the middle button : Center the point of rotation on the selected

feature (face, circle, etc.).

Holding middle button : Activate the panning feature.

Holding middle button + left-clicking (or right-clicking) : Activate the

zoom function, then move the mouse up/down to zoom in/zoom out.

Holding middle button AND left button (or right button) : Activate the

rotate function.

Right-clicking: Open the contextual menu of a feature.