A tool catalog is a logical structure that houses an array of stock tool or tool palette definitions. Tool catalogs provide a system for identifying, locating, and configuring tools and tool palettes. The catalog itself has no visual representation in the Tool Palettes window.
In addition to containing tool and tool palette information, a catalog also can contain other organizational units. Containers that you can create in a catalog include categories and packages.
The data handled by a tool catalog can come from local sources, or be stored on the Internet.