The following settings are recommended up to CATIA V4.2.5 with COM/STEP 4.3.1.0 and SolidWorks 2016.

CATIA V4 (T-Systems) - System

• No elements should be placed in NOSHOW/NOPICK.
• Model should be cleaned of all unused information, because the translator exports the complete content of CATIA-parts.
  • Delete:
  • Unused DETAILS (in all workspaces) 
  • Unused elements from NOSHOW (in all workspaces)
  • Drawings
• Update SOLID-M into SOLID-E with CATSOE utility.
• Perform SOLIDE/UPDATE, also if message UPDATE ALREADY DONE appears. (Regeneration removes inconsistencies.)
• Generate Volumes from SOLID-E and delete SOLID-E in all workspaces. (Geometry is still exported as a solid in STEP.)
• Scaled and mirrored dittos (EXPLODE function) should not be used.
• Before export elements of special CATIA modules (e.g. PIPING, BUILDING DESIGN) need to be converted to STEP conform elements.
• Use CATCLN.
• Assembly structures in SETs should be transferred to DETAILS.
• Link all SETs if possible (SETS -> LINK).
• Solids/Volumes consisting of separate Bodies should be avoided.
• Objects used for Boolean operations should show good penetration.

CATIA V4 (T-Systems) - STEP Preprocessor

• The COM/STEP STEP Processor can be used in batch, interactive and Java mode. The following descriptions refer to the Java GUI.
• Menu STEP:
  • Select AP214 Version IS
  • Conformance Class: CC2 for geometry and CC20 for drawings
  • Select Product Structure S3: Item_Definition_Structure for assemblies
  • Geometry and topology: select G2, G3 and G5, do not select G4 and G7
• Menu Conversions 
  • Choose Solid as Target modeling system.
  • INDEX and DATA size should always be set to generous values (50000, 200000).
  • Exporting DETAIL/DITTO creates STEP assemblies with the top level product named after the CATIA model. 

STEP File

• STEP files using either version (CD or DIS) can be imported.
• The STEP filename including path should not exceed 41 Characters.
• The STEP filename should not contain: equal sign (=), colon (:), semicolon (;), asterisk (*), question mark (?), quotation marks (""), or comma(,);
• There must be no spaces in the STEP filename.
• The extension *.step of the STEP files must be renamed to *.stp.

SolidWorks - STEP Postprocessor

• To import a STEP file go to File -> Open… and select the file.
• Click on Options and the Import Options dialog box appears. Under General options following can be selected:
• Surface/solid entities: import surface and solid entities.
  Try forming solids
  B-Rep mapping: import the model using boundary representation. If not selected, SolidWorks attempts to knit surfaces into solids.
  Knit surfaces: imports as surfaces and tries to knit imported surfaces.
  Do not knit: imports as surfaces without knitting them.
• Free point/curve entities: imports free points and curve entities.
• Import as sketches
• Import as 3D curves
• Import multiple bodies as parts: Imports a multibody part as an assembly document. The multiple bodies are imported as part documents contained in the assembly. With this option cleared the multibody part imports as a part document that contains multiple imported bodies.
• Perform full entity check and repair errors: default is selected
• Customize curve tolerance: needed tolerance for the import can be entered here.
• Map configuration data (for STEP only): Imports STEP file configuration data plus geometric data. To import only the geometry this option must be left unchecked.
• The other available options are not applicable for the STEP import.
• Recommended options are to check Surface/solid entities, Try forming solids and Perform full entity check and repair errors.

SolidWorks – System

• Import errors are indicated in the history tree. By mouse right click over the model and choosing What’s wrong?, a detailed information will be displayed.
• Doing a Geometry check, the errors will be indicated in the model.