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 who’s 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 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
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/E’s 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 company’s 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” Primarily for background color setting

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 keeps off toolpath arrow display when spinning
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]
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)
Default looks at the loadpoint or PTC.com
removes error message
Allows multiple skels for top-down design
path to graphics library loadpoint

Other References

Olaf Corten’s Pro/ENGINEER Site

Pro/E WF4 Config.pro Options
PTC Reference Documents
PTC Free Downloads
Pro/ENGINEER Resource Center
PTC’s Pro/ENGINEER Forum

Michael Dolan - President

Choice Designs, Inc.
mdolan@ezchoice.com
Phone: 330-405-6770

Ethan Meyer – emeyer@ptc.com

PTC Channel Technical Manager - Columbus, OH