NOPUG Presentation March 11, 2010

Choice Designs, Inc. dba Concept2Production, phone: 877-405-6770

www.ezchoice.com / www.concept2production.net
Configurations - Files and Usage in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 5.0

Configurations can mean: Settings, Options, Files, Hardware and more
Consider what settings like these could/should do for you: Standardization of models and
drawings, optimization of performance, reduction/removal of repetitive tasks to name a few.
How could this help you? Speed of modeling, drafting, quoting, and other tasks.

The Main Pro/ENGINEER Configuration Files

Config.pro is a text file that stores all of the settings that define the way in which
Pro/ENGINEER handles modeling and assembly operations. It can affect performance and
almost every aspect of Pro/E. It also calls other configuration files mentioned later. There are
hundreds of options built into Pro/E. To manage or edit them, Click Tools > Options.

Config.sup a special config.pro file for the supervisor or network level whos settings
supersede all other config.pros

Search.pro a text file listing all directories that Pro/E should search for files upon any data
retrieval. Of most use when not using a Data Management system. This provides a full path
to all directory location for products, library parts, training files, etc... Users should be aware
that listing too many directories will affect retrieval performance as Pro/E will search each
directory thoroughly for the latest version of a file.

Mapkey - A mapkey is a macro you create to record frequently used command sequences to
keyboard keys. You can create mapkeys for any task you perform frequently within Pro/E.
You can also add mapkeys as icons to a toolbar or menu bar. Their information is housed in
the config.pro file. Click Tools > Mapkeys.

Config.win a binary file that stores User Interface configuration settings, such as toolbar
visibility, icons, mapkeys displayed and Model Tree location settings. Maintaining only one of
these per user is recommended.

Tree.cfg a file that controls what columns and content are displayed in the model tree.
Must be pointed to in the config.pro file to be automatic.

Syscol.scl - a file containing definitions for system colors (background, datums, lines, etc).
This is pointed to in the config.pro

Appearance.dmt file that stores current Pro/E part colors from the Appearance Editor.
Opening additional files adds to the palette (does not remove different colors). Setup your
company or industry standard of colors and appearances. Users often create a type of color-
coding that can be used such as for mold openings and trimming dies.

Drawing.dtl Setup file used by drawings, formats, and layouts. It should carry company
drawing standards. It controls drawing standardization such as leader lengths, dimension
display, etc. It is read upon creation and settings are copied into the drawing.

Table.bnd - sheet metal bend table configuration files. Used to specify for different materials
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NOPUG Presentation March 11, 2010
Choice Designs, Inc. dba Concept2Production, phone: 877-405-6770
www.ezchoice.com / www.concept2production.net


Pro/ENGINEER Hardware Configurations

System Requirements & Hardware Certification Information - the Platform Support page
at PTC.com providing detailed system requirements & certified hardware configurations. The
main page provides reqs for most PTC products as well as a breakdown by hardware vendor.

Other Suggestions

Template Start-part files Create standard files that are copied when creating any Pro/E
model. These ensure that company/engineering standards are applied to your designs.
English/metric units, layers, default datums, views, parameters, relations all can be stored
and prompted for helping provide standardization across your database. (Also consider
standardizing an automated model for starting dies, gears, blades, etc)

Format Directory - Create a format directory and include Drawing Templates to automate
drawing creation. Pro_format_dir [full path] sets the location for this.

Library If not using data management, use a search path to a standard parts directory
(pins, gages, fixtures, start of blades, dies, fixtures, etc). You can even make a webpage to
drag & drop into assemblies. Also use component interfaces to speed assembly.

Notes Directory Place your standard annotations in one place to easily reuse them.
Pro_note_dir [full path] sets the location for this.

UDF Library Create a directory containing your commonly created User Defined Features.
Pro_group_dir [full path] sets the location for this.

ModelCHECK Use Pro/Es ModelCHECK to ensure designs meet your standards. This
tool is now standard with all Pro/E seats and can often even correct the errors and even
spell-check your drawings. Read more in the Pro/E help files and Help Topics Collection

License Borrowing - Borrow license for up to 10 days onto a laptop for traveling.
Instructions can be found in the PTC.com Knowledge Base.

Company Standard Webpage - Create a company Internet web page to teach or allow new
engineers to use your companys standards. Include corporation information, engineering
documents, engineering spreadsheets, project management, training files or lessons learned
in .pdf format (etc).

Pro/E Manuals Download the current Pro/E manuals in PDF format. They are all available
at PTC.com under the Reference Documents area.
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NOPUG Presentation March 11, 2010
Choice Designs, Inc. dba Concept2Production, phone: 877-405-6770
www.ezchoice.com / www.concept2production.net
New Wildfire 5.0 Config.pro options:
accessory_window_display docked
animate_explode_states yes
allow_save_failed_model prompt
allow_update_part_simp_rep_data yes
autohide_external_sketch yes
auto_backup_new_placement_refs yes
auto_evaluate_simprep_rules yes
!! aux_view_note_format - drawing setup option
! (full-directory-path-here)
! cmm_cutom_tool_param_file
combined_views_customization yes
comp_assemble_start constrain_in_window
contact_surface_gap 0
default_ang_units ang_deg
display_popup_viewer yes
display_z_extension_lines yes
dm_enable_import_export_ui yes
ecad_tool_hole_import as lightweight
ecad_mtg_hole_import as lightweight
enable_3dmodelspace_browser_tab yes
explode_animation_max_time 3
fem_shell_elem_type quad
frt_enabled yes
! (full-directory-path-here)
! geometry_analysis_color_scheme
! (full-directory-path-here)
! help_center_path
idd_repair_tangency yes
! (full-directory-path-here)
! intf2d_in_dxf_mapping_file
intf2d_in_iges_symbols yes
intf2d_in_open_log_window yes
intf2d_out_acad_unicode yes
! (full-directory-path-here)
intf2d_out_dxf_mapping_file
intf2d_out_stroke_text all
intf3d_out_annotations yes
intf3d_out_notes default
intf3d_out_parameters all
intf_generate_log_file short
intf_in_profile_default C:\_J_ProE\Pro_Standards\Start_Files\my_profile
intf_profile_dir C:\_J_ProE\Pro_Standards\Start_Files\
!! Default Location for saved .pdf files (full-directory-path-here)
keep_model_in_open_window yes
!last_session_directory_path C:\ProLocal\
!last_session_retrieval yes
logical_objects yes
make_aux_view_notes yes
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NOPUG Presentation March 11, 2010
Choice Designs, Inc. dba Concept2Production, phone: 877-405-6770
www.ezchoice.com / www.concept2production.net
menu_manager_position inside
merge_type join
modeltree_show_gen_of_instance yes
! new surface merge join type
new_wf5_simp_rep_ui yes
! (full-directory-path-here for each below)
! nc_autodoc_param_dir
! nc_autodoc_report_dir
! nc_autodoc_setup_dir
! nc_autodoc_template_dir
part_table_editor excel
preferred_publish_deliverable print
! (full-directory-path-here)
! punch_models_directory J:\Pro_Standards\Punch_models
real_time_rendering_display transparent_floor
regen_failure_handling no_resolve_mode
regen_simp_retrieve yes
replace_history_rule_order 1
replace_interface_rule_order 2
replace_sameid_rule_order 3
replace_samename_rule_order 4
replace_sameparam_rule_order 5
replace_unrelated_automatic yes
round_display_dim_values yes
simprep_default_model_status master
!show_annotations_dialog_limit 8
show_description_view_manager yes
!! Simulation settings
!sim_auto_paring_thickness 0
sim_check_jacobian_corners yes
sim_display_current_csys_triad yes
sim_display_highlight_ref yes
sim_display_load_name yes
sim_display_mesh_control_name yes
sim_display_mesh_control_value yes
sim_display_shell_pairs yes
sim_display_z_buffered yes
sim_extend_surf_max_angle 30
sim_icon_distribution_density -1
sim_ignore_unpaired yes
sim_pp_display_beam_thickness actual
sim_remove_unopposed yes
simprep_default_model_status master
sketcher_strngthn_to_def_dec_pl yes
snap_single_constraint yes
!! ISDX Style settings
style_auto_regen_curves yes
style_auto_regen_shaded_surface yes
style_auto_regen_surface yes
PDF Created with deskPDF PDF Writer - Trial :: http://www.docudesk.com
NOPUG Presentation March 11, 2010
Choice Designs, Inc. dba Concept2Production, phone: 877-405-6770
www.ezchoice.com / www.concept2production.net
style_connection_arrow_scale 3
style_display_grid yes
style_grid_spacing 5
style_surface_mesh_display on
style_surface_mesh_quality 8
tol_num_digits_default_driven yes
ttf_handling_for_plot_files use true type fonts
ui_theme wildfire_5
update_copy_geom_location yes
!! Default Location for saved weld preferences (full-directory-path-here)
! weld_fillet_preferences_file
! weld_general_preferences_file
! weld_groove_preferences_file
! weld_plug_slot_preferences_file
! weld_spot_preferences_file
weld_ui_standard ANSI
windows_browser_type ie_in_process
witness_line_intersection yes

! Changed options as of Wildfire 5.0:
ecad_pin_hole_import as lightweight
ecad_via_hole_import as lightweight
step_export_format ap203_e2

! Obsolete options as of Wildfire 5.0:
! cdt_transfer_details
! dxf_export_mapping_file
! dxf_out_stroke_text
! intf3d_in_import_includes_items
! intf3d_in_import_join_surfs
! popup_refpairintch_window
! pro_lwa_library_path
! pro_lwa_license_path
! sketcher_intent_manager
! use_cadam_plot_data

Other References

Olaf Cortens Pro/ENGINEER Site (http://www.proesite.com/)
Pro/E WF5 Config.pro Options
PTC Reference Documents (http://www.ptc.com/appserver/cs/doc/refdoc.jsp)
PTC Free Downloads
Pro/ENGINEER Resource Center
(http://www.ptc.com/community/resource_center/proengineer/index.htm)
PTCs Pro/ENGINEER Forum

Michael Dolan - President
Choice Designs, Inc.
mdolan@ezchoice.com
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