What is CATIA Cache option and CGR files ?
CATIA V5 default way of working is to load the Geometry. This can lead to a drop in performance when loading large assemblies as the required memory is important.
In this case, we may want to work with the Cache option. This will generate CGR files (Catia Graphics Representation) which only contain Tessellation Data and no Geometry, and save them in cache folder for faster loading and visualization.
Note that CATProduct will no longer call CATPart and .model files to display the assembly, but only the CGR files.
To activate it in CATIA V5, open the Tools menu → Options → Infrastructure → Product Structure → Work with the cache system. Choose a Path to a local folder where CGR cached files will be saved.
HOOPS Exchange API
HOOPS Exchange API can load cached CGR files with the specific CATIA options m_bCacheActivation and the cache folder path m_pcCachePath. See the documentation on Catia options.
Note that you must put the root of the cache folder.
For instance, if the CGR files are contained in data\cgr\#4\temp\myCGR you must point to data and not to myCGR.
A3DImporter myImport; myImport.m_sLoadData.m_sSpecifics.m_sCatiaV5.m_bCacheActivation = true;
myImport.m_sLoadData.m_sSpecifics.m_sCatiaV5.m_pcCachePath = (A3DUTF8Char*)"C:\\Users\\My\\Documents\\myCache"
HOOPS Demo Viewers
The Cache option is available in CATIA specific settings from the import window in HOOPS Demo Viewer.
The Cache option is available in CATIA assembly settings from the import window in HOOPS Exchange Demo.
