Introduction to Catalog Service

Catalog Service is a platform for publishing component catalog or component part libraries and using them in your projects. The catalogs can be published by manufacturers, Standard bodies, and content aggregators. For example, 3D models of Industrial or Architectural components, 2D electrical symbols or databases containing dimensional and electrical properties from a manufacturer's catalog. Catalog Service provides a platform to consolidate all these disparate catalogs in a single location.

The Catalog Service uses the Bentley Cloud Service to store catalogs. In the Project Portal, you can use the Catalog Service to add components required for your project. These components can be leveraged by any members of your CONNECTED project using the Catalog Explorer. You can also create content, as a cell, in Bentley Descartes, attach catalog item type data to it and then publish along with the attachments to the Catalog Service.

The following diagram provides an overview of the Catalog Service.

Advantages of Catalog Service

Shorter project startup time
Ability for organizations to manage component catalogs for their projects
Support complete project lifecycle and delivery of asset

Accessing Catalogs

All catalogs for a project need to be stored on the respective CONNECTED project on the Bentley Cloud Service. You can access the catalogs in MicroStation only when you sign in as a CONNECTED user and assign a project to a WorkSet. For information on assigning a project to a WorkSet, refer to the topic To Assign a CONNECTED Project to a WorkSet.

Enabling Catalog Service for Technology Preview

When you open a file from a WorkSet that is assigned a CONNECTED project, Bentley Descartes connects to the Catalog Live Service and starts downloading the catalogs. During this time, the Message center reads "Downloading Catalog Service". Once the download is complete, you get the message "Catalog Service Cache is ready for use" in the Message center. The tools in the Catalog Service ribbon group are now available for use.