CATIA automation
In short
CATIA automation means that macros, Knowledgeware rules or CAA applications carry out repetitive work in CATIA, in V5 through VBA, VBScript and CATScript, in 3DEXPERIENCE also through EKL. We develop these functions with your design team, tailored to your methods, start models and OEM requirements.
Updated 27 Oct 2026
Many CATIA V5 users run a mix of VBA macros, PowerCopies and Knowledge Advisor rules that grew over years, often without an owner. We sort this inventory, rebuild what matters in a clean form and prepare it for 3DEXPERIENCE where a switch is planned.
- Start with
- Sprintone use case · €9,900
- Systems
- CATIA V5, 3DEXPERIENCE
How it works
- 01
Take stock
Macros, CATScripts, PowerCopies, user-defined features, Knowledge Advisor rules and catalogs are listed with purpose, owner and use.
- 02
Choose the method
Knowledgeware for rules inside the model, Automation with VBA or VBScript for tasks across documents, CAA in C++ only where Automation cannot reach, and EKL in 3DEXPERIENCE.
- 03
Build and test
Development against your start models, catalogs and OEM methods, with test runs on real products. AI functions use the same Automation interface and show every change as a preview first.
- 04
Rollout
Deployment in your CATIA environment, documentation and training. Where 3DEXPERIENCE is planned, each function gets a migration path.
What you get
Macros for daily tasks
Renaming, property filling, drawing frames, exports and product structure tasks as VBA macros with a simple user interface.
Knowledgeware templates
PowerCopies, user-defined features, parameters, formulas, rules and checks that carry your design rules into the model.
Model checks
Knowledge checks and macros that test naming, structure and parameters before release or OEM delivery. An assistant can explain findings, and the engineer decides.
Path to 3DEXPERIENCE
For each V5 function a decision: keep it as Automation, rewrite it in EKL or replace it with a standard function of the platform.
Limits
CATIA V5 macros depend on the CATIA release and the installed licenses, and Knowledge Advisor rules and checks need the matching Knowledgeware licenses. Not every V5 macro runs unchanged in 3DEXPERIENCE, because parts and products are stored there as objects in the platform rather than as files. CAA development needs its own development environment and pays off only for functions that Automation and Knowledgeware cannot cover. OEM methods and their checking profiles remain the reference.
Systems
- CATIA V5
- 3DEXPERIENCE
Frequently asked questions
Which automation interfaces does CATIA V5 offer?
CATIA V5 offers three main routes. Automation exposes the CATIA object model through COM to VBA, VBScript and CATScript macros and to external programs. Knowledgeware adds parameters, formulas, rules, checks, reactions, PowerCopies and user-defined features inside the model. CAA is the C++ development interface for deep integration and own workbenches. Most tasks in a design department are covered with Automation and Knowledgeware.
Do CATIA V5 macros work in CATIA on 3DEXPERIENCE?
Partly. CATIA on 3DEXPERIENCE also supports automation with VBA, VBScript and CATScript, but parts and products are stored as objects in the platform rather than as files. Macros that work with file paths, document names or folder structures need rework. Rules inside the model are often rewritten in EKL, the Enterprise Knowledge Language of 3DEXPERIENCE. A review of each macro shows what can stay and what has to change.
What is the difference between CATIA Knowledgeware and VBA macros?
Knowledgeware lives inside the model. Parameters, formulas, rules and checks update with the design and travel with the part. VBA macros run from outside, act on one or many documents and suit tasks such as renaming, exporting or building drawings. Knowledgeware fits design rules that must stay with the geometry, and macros fit repetitive operations across documents. Many CATIA setups combine both.
Is CAA or VBA the better choice for CATIA automation?
For most design tasks VBA Automation is enough and much faster to build and maintain. CAA, the C++ interface of CATIA, is the right choice when a function needs access that Automation does not offer, such as own workbenches, deep integration into commands or high performance on large data. CAA needs a separate development environment and usually has to be rebuilt for new CATIA releases, which raises the maintenance effort.
Talk to us about your task.
In the free 45-minute intro call we show a live demo on comparable geometry. Someone from our team replies personally within one working day.