How to change the authoring tool of a CAD Document?

Answer

In case you need to change the authoring tool of a CAD Document, from AutoCAD to CATIA for example, click on the following button in the CAD Document Profile Card header:

The following window will appear, allowing you to change the Authoring Tool, add an Authoring Tool Version (optional) and a Native File.

change authoring tool window

Executing the authoring tool change on a CAD Document will automatically trigger the creation of a new version:

  • Minor version of the CAD Document, in case the lifecycle state of the CAD Document is "In Preparation".
  • Major version of the CAD Document, in case the lifecycle state of the CAD Document is "Approved", "Released" or "Replaced".

Note that the new CAD Document version creation can trigger the creation of a new minor or major version of its related Part.

The new CAD Document version will be created following these characteristics:

  • The native file from the previous version of the CAD Document will be retained in the new version only if it is compatible with the selected Authoring Tool (e.g: you change the authoring tool from AutoCAD to BricsCAD) ; otherwise, it will be discarded.
  • In case the native file of the previous version is not compatible, you must upload a new native file via the upload arrow (pointing up arrow) in the native file box .
    If this CAD Document will be modified later with a PLM CAD Connector, its name should be “STref of this CAD Doc”. Example: ST0123456_01.CATDrawing or ST1234567_02.dwg.
  • The new version of the CAD Document will be marked as "not connector managed" and will be claimed.
    In case you will save it using one of the PLM CAD connectors, it will then be set to connector managed.

Note: This “Change Authoring tool” command will not be available either in edit mode or during the creation of CAD documents from PLM.

Note 2: 

Changing the authoring tool to CATIA will automatically update the classification of the CAD Document based on the uploaded native file type:

  • .CATDrawing: Mechanical/Drawing
  • .CATPart: Mechanical/Part
  • .CATProduct: Mechanical/Assembly


Example use case:

A drawing was uploaded first as an AutoCAD drawing. Now, you are asked to create a new version of it, and you want to use CATIA for that.

  • First go to the Profile Card of the drawing and hit the button to change the authoring tool.
  • Select CATIA as authoring tool, and upload a new CATDrawing, locally saved and previously renamed as “STref of this CAD Doc”.CATDrawing
  • Validate, then go to the current version of this CAD Document, and open it in CATIA
  • Then, work as usual with your CATDrawing

As a result, you will be able to see in the CAD Document History that this CAD Document had several authoring tools.

Category
PLM
PLM - Document
PLM - Workflow & Lifecycle