Starting a Session

Use this method to start a session from the desktop.

Warning: These shortcuts are created via the official tools (for example, CATIAENV, setcatenv). Consequently, the application (CATIA, for example) runs normally without any blank DOS window in the background, because the official tools ensure that the blank DOS window does not appear. However, if you create your own shortcut with customized properties, then an empty DOS window will appear, because CATSTART.exe is a batch executable and Windows automatically generates this window. If you close this empty DOS window, it kills CATIA session also.

Use this method to start a session from the Start > All Programs menu.

Use this method to start a session using the Run command.

1. On the taskbar, select the Start > Run... command, enter the command:

   cnext

   or:

   cnext.exe

2. Click OK.

This method lets you start a session using the last environment installed.

Use this method to start a session from the command line.

1. Open an MS-DOS window.

2. Change to the default folder in which you installed the product.

   The default folder is:

   C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B209\intel_a\code\bin

3. Enter the command:

   cnext

   or:

   cnext.exe

   The options are:

   
   
   • -e: starts CATIA and passes the name of the command to start
   • -env: specifies the name of the environment with which to start a session; by default, the default environment is started
   • -direnv: specifies the folder containing the environment
   • -object: followed by object to load (between " ") when starting CATIA for example, the following command runs CATIA and loads a document:

     cnext -object "MyFile"

     If the program you want to start requires parameters, you must enclose the program name and the parameters between " ". For example: -object "arg1 arg2"

   • -admin: starts a session in administrator mode for the purpose of locking settings
   • -workbench "workbench_name": starts a session and directly opens the workbench specified. The string "workbench_name" is the name of the workbench as it appears in the Start menu. For example, when using CATIA, the command:

     cnext -workbench "Part Design"

     starts a session and opens the Part Design workbench directly.
   • -h: displays help.

Use this method if you want to use the catstart command.

The principal command you will use is the catstart command. This command is used to launch other programs for:

• starting a session (for example, CNEXT)
• running environment administration tools (catiaenv, setcatenv, delcatenv, lscatenv, chcatenv, readcatenv)
• running software management tools (CATSoftwareMgt, CATNodelockMgt, CATOptionsMgt and the equivalent batch commands).

1. Open an MS-DOS window.

2. Change to the default folder in which you installed the product.

   The default folder is:

   C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B209\intel_a\code\bin

3. Enter the command:

   catstart -run CNEXT	

   or:

   catstart

   to start a session using the default global environment created at installation.

   The options are:

   
   
   • -batch: used with "-object", this argument runs macros in batch mode (an interactive session is not displayed)
   • -env: specifies a new environment name; if you do not specify an environment, the default global environment created at installation is used
   • -direnv: specifies the directory created at installation containing the environment (which may be different from the default environment directory)
   • -object: followed by object to load (between " ") when starting a session; for example, the following command runs a session and loads a document:

   catstart -direnv E:\CATEnv -env	CATIA.V6R2011.B209 -object "E:\Product1.CATProduct"

   If the program you want to start requires you to specify options, you must enclose the parameters between " " (for example, -object "arg1 arg2"). For example:

   catstart -run CATSoftwareMgtB -object "-L"

   
   
   • -run

     This option is used to launch other programs for:

     
     
     • starting a session (for example, CNEXT)
     • running environment administration tools (catiaenv, setcatenv, delcatenv, lscatenv, chcatenv, readcatenv)
     • running software management tools (CATSoftwareMgt, CATNodelockMgt, CATOptionsMgt and the equivalent batch commands).

   The "-run" option is followed by the name of the program to start. If this option is not specified, a CATIA session is started by default.

   These commands also have their own options. If the program you want to start requires you to specify options, you must enclose the program name and the parameters between " ". For example, the following command:

   catstart -direnv E:\CATEnv -env CATIA.V6R2011.B209 -run "CATSoftwareMgtB -L"

   lists the installed configurations and/or products on your workstation.

   Note:

   Include a referenced path inside backslashes (before the double quotation marks) if the path contains blanks like this:

   catstart -run myAppli -object "-open \"C:\My Documents\file0001.txt\"" 

Use this method to start a session in administration mode to lock settings.