Creating a New Catalog

If you plan to edit or add elements in the Master Catalog, you may want to create a new catalog instead of editing the existing one. That way, the custom elements you create are distinguishable from the defaults and are stored in one place. When you create a new catalog, you specify a name and where you want to store the catalog.

When you close the Catalog Manager, the new catalog will become the current catalog in the catalog panel.

To create a new catalog:

1. Select File > Catalogs > Catalog Manager, or right-click an element in the catalog panel and select Catalog Manager.

2. Select File > New Catalog.

3. In the Create a new catalog dialog, type a name (without extension) in the File Name box.

4. Click the Browse button next to the Location edit box and select the directory where you want to store the new catalog. The default is the program's Catalogs directory, which is where you should store all catalogs.

5. From the Type drop box, select the unit of measure you would like to use for elements in the catalog.

6. From the Precision drop box, select the level of precision you would like to use for measurements.  For example, selecting #’-# #/16” sets the level of precision to 1/16th of an inch when working in feet and inches.

7. In the Name edit box, type your name.

8. In the Company edit box, type the name of your company, if applicable.

9. Click OK. A new, blank catalog is created.

You can now add groups and elements to the catalog, or import elements from another catalog. Remember to save the catalog after you make changes to it.