Update and Merge catalog parts

The ability to use catalog parts to cut pockets and transfer manufacturing intent is one of the most powerful Cimatron design features. Many users modify and improve the catalog parts by altering the table sizes or by adding color or manufacturing attributes to the cutting objects. This is smart, but it does create a predicament when a new catalog part version is issued. How to update the catalog part without losing the applied custom attributes?

To solve this problem, Cimatron 2026 brings a new catalog utility to compare your catalogs with those that have been updated, and transfer over table values, color, and attributes. Merge new Catalog files is found on the opening screen catalog menu.

In the catalog merge utility, you will see an actual comparison of the new catalogs vs. your current catalog files. When the comparison sees that your parts have customization, you will have options to transfer them over:

• Use your local table values in the new catalog table.
• Use your local color and attributes on the new catalog geometry.
• As a safety measure, the older catalog files with your local changes are saved in the catalog folder as .bak files.
• When the utility finishes, a log file is created to describe the update results.

Note that transferring actual geometric changes back over to a Cimatron catalog is beyond the scope of this utility (Typically, once you physically change a catalog part, you aren’t really interested in how Cimatron updates it anymore).

The Merge Catalog utility opens a Cimatron catalog zip file and sorts the parts. Some will be all new, but others will be updates to parts you already have.

For parts being updated, a comparison takes place.
If user defined table values or colors are found, these can be transferred
over to the new catalog parts.

In this way the catalog update can be processed without losing any of your local changes.