Configurations - Files and Usage in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.

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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 & 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 colorcoding 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

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. Wildfire 4.0 - http://www.ptc.com/WCMS/files/52592/en/proewf4-1.pdf

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, 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.

Example Config.pro settings System_color_file path to .scl file Dm_remember_server no Default_dec_places 3 Sketcher_dec_places 3 Enable_absolute_accuracy yes Inch_grid_interval .01 Millimeter_grid_interval 1.0 Save_drawing_picture_file embed Save_model_display shading_lod Sketcher_starts_in_2d no Windows_scale 1 Open_window_maximized yes Spin_with_part_entities yes Bm_graph_tool File_open_default_folder Sketcher_refit_after_dim_modify no Number_user_color 150 Curve_creation_from_analysis yes Cl_arrow_scale 0 Web_browser_homepage [preference] Display_axes no Display_planes no Display_points no Display_coord_sys no Spin_center_display no Suppress_license_loss_dialog no Multiple_skeletons_allowed yes pro_texture_library [D:\ptc\graphiclib] Other References Olaf Cortens Pro/ENGINEER Site Pro/E WF4 Config.pro Options PTC Reference Documents PTC Free Downloads Pro/ENGINEER Resource Center PTCs Pro/ENGINEER Forum Michael Dolan - President
Choice Designs, Inc. mdolan@ezchoice.com Phone: 330-405-6770

Primarily for background color setting Prevents having to login until wanted Better than just 2 Make this the same as the model def. Esp. for any merging / copy geoms Dragging interval for inch-unit models Dragging interval for mm-unit models Speed retrieval of drawings Embedded shaded image Personal preference Full screen!! Full screen!! No blinking out while spinning excel_linked working_directory regen stays at current scale set high number allows for creation of curve from BMX (Hidden) keeps off toolpath arrow display when spinning Default looks at the loadpoint or PTC.com

removes error message Allows multiple skels for top-down design path to graphics library loadpoint

Ethan Meyer emeyer@ptc.com

PTC Channel Technical Manager - Columbus, OH