Manage High DPI Screen When Using CATIA V5 with Windows 11

When launching CATIA V5 on a Windows 11 machine, you might notice a black command prompt window displaying the message, "This application is now HighDPI aware.” This message relates to how Windows manages display scaling on high-resolution screens. DPI, or Dots Per Inch, measures how many pixels are packed into a given area of the screen—higher DPI settings lead to crisper, more detailed visuals. However, this can also shrink user interface elements, making them harder to read or click.

Windows 11 uses advanced scaling methods to make older applications more visually compatible with high-resolution displays. CATIA V5, originally developed long before 4K or high-DPI displays became standard, may not fully support modern scaling out of the box. The message you’re seeing indicates that CATIA is now recognizing and adjusting to the DPI settings of your system, which helps prevent blurry or improperly sized text and icons.

While this message is harmless, the persistent black window can be distracting or unwanted in professional environments. In this blog, we'll walk through the steps to hide or suppress this window while ensuring CATIA V5 continues to run properly.

So, How Do I Get Rid of this Window?

Like with most things in CATIA, there are various ways to accomplish the same task—some official, some creative. Getting rid of the HighDPI command prompt window is no exception. Let's cover a few practical and safe ways to make this window disappear, so you can focus on designing without feeling like you’re being haunted by debug mode.

Use CNEXT in your shortcut target instead of CATSTART

A potential workaround is to change the shortcut target you're using to launch V5. Right-click on the shortcut used to open CATIA V5 and open the properties to change the Target. Change it from CATSTART.exe to CNEXT.exe.

Try changing this:

"C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B31\win_b64\code\bin\CATSTART.exe" -run "CNEXT.exe" -env CATIA_PLM_Express.V5-6R2022.B32 -direnv "C:\ProgramData\DassaultSystemes\CATEnv" -nowindow

To this:

"C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B31\win_b64\code\bin\CNEXT.exe" -env CATIA_PLM_Express.V5-6R2022.B32 -direnv "C:\ProgramData\DassaultSystemes\CATEnv" -nowindow

Also, in the target path, make sure the “- nonwindow” is at the end of the path.

Change HighDPI Settings

You can also ask CATIA to manage the HighDPI scaling factor by going to the CATStart.exe file, right-clicking on it, going to Properties, and choosing Change high DPI settings.

The CATStart.exe file(s) are in the following locations:

 C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\B30\win_b64\code\bin

You will have one executable for each version of V5 loaded, where B30 means 2020, B29 means 2019, B28 means 2018, etc.

Depending on what kind of computer you are using, you may need to experiment with different settings to find one that suits your needs.

Check Your Scaling

Again, depending on the type of computer you have and the type of monitor you are using, you may want to check your display settings in Windows.

Make sure you are running a certified graphics card driver.

Ensure your graphics card driver level is Dassault Systèmes certified.

Use an Environment Variable

Lastly, you can try an environment variable to disable the DPI aware screen. Add DSNOTSETPROCESSDPIAWARE=1 to the environment file.

The env file location can be found in the shortcut target mentioned above, typically in “C:\ProgramData\DassaultSystemes\CATEnv”

Conclusion

Every system is a bit different, so some trial and error may be necessary to find the best solution for your specific setup. With these steps, you can streamline your CATIA launch experience and maintain a clean, professional workflow.

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