Unpack to the CTF folder

Unpacking a Cimatron transfer file (.ctf file) places all of the file contents in a folder structure of your choosing. The last used folder is always stored and offered again as the location for the next unpack procedure.

A new option changes that behavior by marking one checkbox. The last used folder will not be considered, no folder browsing is required, and the .ctf file contents will be unpacked to the same folder where the .ctf file resides.

Earlier versions always required browsing to the desired folder.

Selecting to unpack where the .ctf file resides eliminates the need to browse to any folder.

Pack and remove links or features

When packing files to .ctf file, we take multiple Cimatron files and zip them into a single file with all of their information references and relations. This is useful for concentrating all the files of a project into a single file. In some cases, we wish to pack the files in a way that will remove some of the information, such as intellectual property information, so that we can share it with others, or to make the .ctf file lighter by removing some information.

The new Pack to Share function does just that. It will allow you to strip the file of different bits of information based on you needs.

The following list details the types of information you can remove from the file. You will find that in some cases, the selection of one option requires the prerequisite use of another.

• Break links to catalog files: This is the default option. Catalog parts are not included and links to catalog files are pre-broken. This ensures that when the file is unpacked and opened, there will be no calls to reconnect any missing catalog files.

• Break Part level file links: Some Cimatron operations, suh as Export to Part, leave file management links in the parts. Use this option when you want a minimized .ctf file, without any reference parts that would otherwise also be gathered up.

• Reset History on catalog parts: The feature tree history of any assembly component that is catalog based will be removed. This prevents any user from exploding the catalog feature to see the build process inside it.

• Reset history on all parts: As it states, this option performs a reset history operation on every part. The parts will be non-parametric and non-associative to each other, and all of their features will be gone, along with the history of how they were created.

• Clear all Setup Table entries: The Setup tables will be wiped clean. This is another step to protect proprietary logic that you have invested in your own parts and would prefer not to share.

• Remove saved Display Mesh data: This option can be used on its own. It has only one benefit, which is to make the .ctf file significantly smaller – sometimes 30 to 40%. When such a file is unpacked, expect the initial opening time in Cimatron to take longer, as the display mesh must be rebuilt at this time.

The Pack to Share function works on assemblies and parts. It is in the File menu, and when you run it, you can select the file you want to pack, and then select the desired packing conditions.

Pack to Share creates a CTF file. It cannot be used to remove information from a file assembly and save it as is.

This new utility offers several options for removing inherent information in a job file before archiving or sharing.

Depending on the options chosen, Pack to Share will take longer than a simple pack operation.

Conserve the Materials file

When upgrading to a new version of Cimatron, the installation process takes some commonly customized user files (such as Preferences, command layout, hotkeys, and more) and merges them into the factory settings version of those files, so that your customizations are kept in the new version as much as possible.

Starting with Cimatron 2026 we will add the Materials file to the list of files being merged.