How to Auto-Rename Parts and Products in CATIA

Introduction

In large CATIA assemblies, engineers may work with hundreds of parts and products. Giving each component the correct name manually can be time-consuming and may cause naming mistakes.

CATIA Automation can help automate this process.

For example:

Part001 → BRACKET_001
Part002 → BRACKET_002
Part003 → BRACKET_003

A simple macro can read the components and apply the required naming format automatically.

What is CATIA Auto-Renaming?

CATIA auto-renaming means using a macro or automation program to change the names of parts or products automatically.

The automation can work with:

✔ Part Numbers
✔ Instance Names
✔ Product Names
✔ Component names

In CATIA, the Part Number identifies the reference component, while the Name represents the instance in the product structure.

Why Automate Renaming?

Manual renaming becomes difficult when an assembly contains many components.

Automation can help to:

✔ Save time
✔ Reduce manual errors
✔ Follow company naming standards
✔ Rename multiple components quickly
✔ Keep assembly names organized
✔ Make large assemblies easier to manage

How Does It Work?

A simple CATIA renaming workflow looks like this:

Open CATIA Product

↓

Read Components

↓

Apply Naming Rule

↓

Rename Components

↓

Check Names

↓

Save Product

The same process can be repeated for many components automatically.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open the CATProduct

Open the CATIA assembly that contains the parts or products you want to rename.

Step 2: Read the Product Structure

The automation program accesses the product structure and identifies the components inside the assembly.

For example:

Main Product

→ Bracket
→ Housing
→ Shaft
→ Cover

Step 3: Create a Naming Rule

Decide how the components should be named.

For example:

BRKT_001
BRKT_002
BRKT_003

The rule can also be based on information from Excel or another data source.

Step 4: Rename the Components

The automation applies the new names to the selected components.

For example:

Bracket01 → BRKT_001
Bracket02 → BRKT_002

CATIA Automation provides access to product properties such as PartNumber and Name.

Step 5: Check for Duplicate Names

Before saving, the automation should check whether the new name already exists.

CATIA has naming rules for Part Numbers and Instance Names, so duplicate names can create conflicts.

Step 6: Save the Assembly

After checking the names, the updated CATProduct can be saved.

CATIA Assembly → Read Components → Generate Names → Rename → Save

This becomes especially useful for large assemblies.

Real-World Applications

CATIA auto-renaming can be useful for:

Automotive Design

Organizing vehicle components with standard names.

Aerospace Design

Managing large aircraft assemblies.

Manufacturing

Following company part-number standards.

CAD Data Management

Keeping component names consistent.

BOM Preparation

Making component identification easier for BOM generation.

Benefits

Saves Time

Multiple components can be renamed in a single operation.

Reduces Errors

Automation reduces manual typing mistakes.

Consistent Naming

All components can follow the same naming rule.

Supports Large Assemblies

The same process can be applied to hundreds of components.

Easy to Customize

The naming rule can be changed according to project requirements.

Best Practices

When creating a CATIA renaming macro:

✔ Define the naming rule first
✔ Check for duplicate names
✔ Test on a copy of the assembly
✔ Keep a record of old and new names
✔ Use clear naming standards
✔ Save the assembly after validation

Also remember that changing a Part Number and changing the physical file name are not always the same operation.

Technologies Used

CATIA auto-renaming can be developed using:

CATIA V5 + VBA + CATIA Automation

For more advanced applications, developers can also use C#, VB.NET or C++/CAA.

From Renaming to CAD Automation

Auto-renaming can be the first step toward larger CATIA automation projects.

For example:

Read Assembly → Rename Parts → Update Parameters → Generate BOM → Create Reports

This allows engineers to automate several repetitive CAD activities using one workflow.

Conclusion

Automatically renaming parts and products can make CATIA assembly management faster and easier.

Instead of renaming hundreds of components manually, CATIA Automation can apply a standard naming rule automatically.

The basic workflow is:

Read → Rename → Check → Save

For simple requirements, CATIA VBA and Automation are a good starting point for building practical CAD automation solutions.

Contact Us

At Descode Solutions, we provide:

✔ CATIA Automation Training
✔ CATIA CAA Training
✔ CAD Customization Training
✔ Real-Time Industry Projects
✔ CAD Automation Solutions

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Looking to learn CATIA Automation through practical industry projects?

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