Selecting Federators and Sub-Federators in CATIA V4 Models

This task explains how you can select either the Federator or the Sub-Federator within a V4 Model.

In a V4 Model containing Federative and Sub-Federative elements like Skins and Faces, a new switch allows you to choose between two modes of selection.

In the Sub-Federative Elements Mode, the user highlights and selects the Faces (*FAC) whereas in the Federative Element Mode, he selects the Skin (*SKI) as a whole.

The Hide / Show is made according to the selection.

This task shows you how to:

Basic steps

This task describes basic steps for Selecting Federators and Sub-Federators in CATIA V4 Models.

Open a V4 Model containing a Federator and Sub-Federator such as Skin (*SKI) and Faces (*FAC) in CATIA V6:



The V4 Integration toolbar contains:

The last two icons correspond to the two selection modes of Federators. The highlight and selection are made according to the icon which is pressed. In the Sub-Federative Element Mode, the sub-federative element is highlighted and selected. Sub-Federative Elements Mode is dimmed and becomes unavailable.

The default mode is:


  • the Federative Elements Mode in V4 Integration

  • the Sub-Federative Elements Mode in a "DMU" context or in a "CGR" (see picture below).



Federative Element Mode

This task describes the Federative Element Mode.

  1. Click Federative Elements Mode or click the corresponding item either in the contextual menu or in the View menu. In the Federative Element Mode, the Federative Element is highlighted and selected as a whole. is dimmed and becomes unavailable.

  2. Select the Skin in the Geometry of the Model. The whole Skin is highlighted and selected.



  3. Right-click the Skin and select Hide / Show. As the selection was global, the whole Skin is hidden:



Sub-Federative Element Mode

This task describes the Sub-Federative Element Mode.

  1. Click Sub-Federative Elements Mode (or click the corresponding item either in the contextual menu or in the View menu).

  2. Select a Face in the geometry of the Model. Only the Face is highlighted and selected.



  3. Right-click the Face and select Hide / Show. Only the Face is hidden / shown:



    The Federative Element Mode does not allow to select Federative elements like volumes (*VOL).