How to Change the Background Colour of Drafting in 3DEXPERIENCE

In Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform, engineers often prefer to personalize their environment for better visibility and comfort — especially in the Drafting App. One common customization is changing the background colour of drafting sheets.

By default, 3DEXPERIENCE uses a standard drafting template controlled by system environment variables and XML standard files. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to change the drafting background colour by modifying the default standard files and CATENV configuration — all while keeping your company’s settings organized and reusable.

Step 1: Copy Default Drafting Standards

• Navigate to the default installation directory:
• C:\Program Files\Dassault Systèmes\B427_Cloud\win_b64\resources

(Note: The folder name (like B427_Cloud) might vary depending on your 3DEXPERIENCE version or deployment type)

• Locate the folder named standard inside the resources directory.
• Copy the entire “standard” folder and paste it into a new directory where you will store your custom standards.

Example: C:\Customize_standard_3dexp\standard

• You can rename the folder or path based on your company’s configuration structure.

Step 2: Locate and Edit the CATENV File

The CATENV file defines environment variables and paths for 3DEXPERIENCE. Updating this file ensures your custom standards are recognized.

• Open Environment Editor from the Windows Search bar
• Locate the Global Environments section.
• Identify where the CATENV file is stored, typically under:

C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B427_Cloud\CATEnv

• Open the CATENV file using Notepad++ or any text editor.
• Find the line that specifies CATCollectionStandard (usually around line 29).
• Add your custom standards folder path after the “=” sign.

Example: CATCollectionStandard=C:\Customize_standard_3dexp\standard

• Save and close the file

Step 3: Open 3DEXPERIENCE and Configure Drafting Standards

1. Launch 3DEXPERIENCE and open any application.
2. Close it immediately — this ensures environment paths refresh.
3. It should be like below image

Step 4: Set Responsibility to “Owner”

• Click the downward arrow next to your username.
• Select Edit → Responsibility tab → change to Owner
• Confirm the change.

(This step ensures you have permission to modify and save custom standards.)

Step 5: Customize and Save Drafting Standard

• In the App, click the “Me” symbol (beside your name).
• Go to Preferences → Standards.
• In the dialog box:
  • Set Category to “Drafting”.
  • Select the desired XML file (e.g., ISO.xml or ASME.xml).
  • Click Save As New and provide a new file name.
  • Save the file in your custom location:
  • C:\Customize_standard_3dexp\standard\drafting

Step 6: Change Background Colour

Now that your custom standard is ready:

• Navigate to:
  Standard → General → Sheet → Colors → 2D Template.
• Choose your preferred background color.
• Click OK to save.
• Change the Responsibility back to Leader once completed.

You can now open any drawing to verify that the background color has successfully updated according to your preference.

Summary of Key Paths

Tips & Best Practices

• Always backup the default standard before making modifications.
• Keep a naming convention for your customized standards (e.g., ISO_Custom.xml).
• Use version control if multiple engineers edit standards.
• For large organizations, centralize the custom standard path to ensure consistency.

Conclusion

Changing the drafting background color in 3DEXPERIENCE isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about improving readability, consistency, and user comfort. By following this guide, you can easily manage and customize your drafting environment using controlled standards and CATENV configurations.