Fundamentals Overview

The Fundamentals Help describes basic functions for all areas of

Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire. Refer to these topics for information on using the
user interface, on configuring Creo Parametric for Fundamentals, and on
performing basic operations.
Tasks for Fundamentals
•Working with Core Functions
•Working with the User Interface ○ Analyzing Model Parameters
○ Using the Main Window
○ Managing Annotation Features and
○ Working with Files Annotations
○ Using Systems Colors ○ Setting Up Model Properties

○ Using Related Applications ○ Working with Relations and

•Working with the Model
○ Using the Model Tree
○ Viewing the Model
Making Selections
○
Searching for Entities
○
○ Creating Cross Sections
○ Regenerating Models
○ Integrating Changes
Parameters
○ Constructing Chains and Surface
Sets
•Getting Productive
○ Using the Layer Tree
○ Using Family Tables
○ Using Configuration Options
○ Customizing Creo Parametric
○ Getting Information
○ Using Trail Files and Training Files

About the Creo Parametric Main Window

Each Creo Parametric object opens in its own Creo Parametric window. You
can perform many operations from the ribbon in multiple windows without
canceling pending operations. Only one window is active at a time, but you
can still perform some functions in the inactive windows. To activate a
window, press CTRL+A.
The Creo Parametric window consists of the following elements:
• Ribbon
• File menu
• Toolbars
• Navigation area
• Graphics window
• Creo Parametric browser
• Status bar
Ribbon
The ribbon contains the command buttons organized within a set of tabs. On
each tab, the related buttons are grouped. You can customize the ribbon.
See About the Ribbon.
File Menu
The File button in the upper-left corner of the Creo Parametric window opens
a menu that contains commands for managing files models, preparing
models for distribution, and for setting your Creo Parametric environment
and configuration options.
Toolbars
• Quick Access Toolbar—The Quick Access toolbar is available regardless
of which tab is selected on the ribbon. By default it is located at the top of
the Creo Parametric window. It provides quick access to frequently used
buttons, such as buttons for opening and saving files, undo, redo,
regenerate, close windows, switch windows, and so on. In addition, you
can customize the Quick Access toolbar to include other frequently used
buttons and cascading lists from the ribbon.

1 Quick Access toolbar

• Graphics Toolbar—The Graphics toolbar is embedded at the top of the
graphics window. The buttons on the toolbar control the display of
graphics. You can hide or display the buttons on the toolbar. You can
change the location of the toolbar by right-clicking and choosing a location
from the shortcut menu.

Navigator
The navigator includes the Model Tree, Layer Tree, Detail Tree, Folder
browser, and Favorites. on the status bar controls the display of the
navigator.
Graphics Window
The model is displayed in the graphics window to the right of the navigator.
Creo Parametric Browser
The Creo Parametric browser provides access to internal and external Web
sites. on the status bar controls the display of the browser.
Status Bar
Each Creo Parametric window has a status bar located at the bottom of the
Creo Parametric window. When applicable, the status bar displays the
following controls and information areas:
• — Controls the display of the navigation area.
• — Controls the display of the Creo Parametric browser.
• Messages Area — Displays one-line messages related to work in a
window. Right-click in the message area and then click Message Log to
review past messages.
• Server Status Area — Displays Windchill server status when connected
to a Windchill server. Displays Windchill Product Point server status when a
WPP server is the primary server.
• Merged Model List Area — Displays the merged model list in a sheet metal
part.
• — Appears when Creo Parametric is doing a lengthy computation.
Clicking aborts the computation.
• — Displays warning and error shortcuts related to File ▶ Event Manager.
•Model Regeneration Status Area — Indicates status of model regeneration.
○ — Regeneration is complete.
○ — Regeneration is required.
○ — Regeneration has failed.
• — Opens the Search Tool dialog box.
• — Activates the 3D Selection tool.
• Selection Buffer Area — Displays the number of items selected in the
current model.
• Selection Filter Area — Displays the available selection filters.
• Graphics Toolbar Area — Displays the Graphics toolbar if the location of
the Graphics toolbar is set to status bar.

About the Ribbon

The ribbon contains command buttons organized in a set of tabs. On each

tab, the related buttons are grouped. You can minimize the ribbon to make
more space available on your screen. You can customize the ribbon by
adding, removing, or moving buttons. The following figure shows the
different elements of a ribbon.
 1 Tab
2 Button
3 Group
4 Group overflow button
5 Dialog box launcher
Tab—Some tabs are available when you are in a particular mode or
application, or when you need them in a particular context. The Model,
Analysis, Annotate, Render, Tools, View, Applications tabs are some commonly
available tabs when you are in a mode. The Home tab is available when Creo
Parametric has no model opened.
Tabs related to a particular context open or close automatically when you
activate or deactivate the context. Similarly, tabs related with a particular
object open or close automatically when the related objects are selected or
deselected, respectively. Tabs that contain tools of an application or controls
of a tool have specific buttons to open and close them.
The following figure is an example of a tab that opens when you are in an
application. When you open a model and click Model ▶ Applications ▶
Welding ▶ Fillet Weld, the Welding and Fillet Weld tabs appear.

1Tabs match a particular Creo Parametric mode.

Button—Each button on the ribbon consists of an icon and a label. Some
examples of buttons are shown below:

Button for a task

,
 Button with two portions
• Each portion performs a different task.
• One portion displays the default icon or the icon of the last selected
, button in the current session. Clicking the icon runs the command
that the icon represents.
The button label remains unchanged irrespective of the last
selection. However, the tooltip reflects the name of the tool that the
icon represents.
• The other portion displays an arrow. Clicking the arrow opens a list
of related buttons.

Group overflow button opens a list of buttons.

Gallery—Provides a set of visual options.

1 Gallery
Dialog box launcher—A button in the lower-right-corner of some groups.
Clicking opens a dialog box with more options related to that group.

1 Dialog box launcher

About Ribbon KeyTips

KeyTips are keyboard shortcuts that offer an easy way to access the tabs or
buttons on the ribbon, Quick Access toolbar, In-graphics toolbar, and the File
menu. KeyTips are sequences of keyboard letters preceded by the Alt key.
Press Alt or F10 key to see the KeyTip bubbles pop up for each tab and
button. This is the first level of KeyTips. You can then press the key or key
sequence shown in the KeyTip to activate the tab or button that you want
use. Press the keys one at a time instead of holding each one down.
Depending on which key you press, a second level of KeyTips may be
displayed or an associated command is run. Press Esc key to return to the
first level of KeyTips.
Note
Press the Alt or F10 key to display or hide the KeyTips.
Examples
• Press Alt-S to switch to Annotate tab from any other tab and display
KeyTips for buttons on the Annotate tab.
• To insert an Annotation Feature, press Alt-S-NF. S takes you to the
Annotate tab and NF inserts an Annotation Feature.
• To create a new file, press Alt-F-N.

About Ribbon Resizing

The ribbon resizes automatically when you reduce the width of the Creo
Parametric window. During ribbon resize, tab labels are truncated and
button labels are hidden. On reducing the width further the groups are
compressed until they collapse completely. Each group displays an icon in
the completely collapsed state. If you continue to reduce the width after all
the groups are in completely collapsed state, a scroll button appears to the
right of the groups. As you scroll the groups to the right a scroll button
appears to the left of the groups. Similarly, a scroll button is also available
for tabs.
The groups collapse according to a preassigned priority index. In the ribbon
customize mode, you can modify the priority index.
Related Links

To Modify Group Collapse Priority During Ribbon Resize

1. Click File ▶ Creo Parametric Options. The Options dialog box opens.
2.In the right pane, click Customize Ribbon tab or Quick Access Toolbar tab.
According to your selection, the Customize the Ribbon page or Customize the
Quick Access Toolbar page opens in the right pane.
An index number displayed at the lower left corner of each group on the
ribbon indicates the collapse priority. The group with a larger index
number collapses earlier than the group with a smaller index number.
3.To change the priority, drag the index number from one group and drop it
on the index number in another group as required. The numbers swap
places.
4. Click OK to apply the changes and close the Options dialog box.
About Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access toolbar is available regardless of the tab selected on the
ribbon. By default it is located at the top of the Creo Parametric window. It
provides quick access to the following frequently used buttons.
— Open a new file.
— Open an existing file.
— Save a file
— Undo an action
— Redo an action
— Regenerate a feature
— Toggle between windows
— Close a window
— Customize the toolbar and change the location of toolbar
You can customize the Quick Access toolbar to include other frequently used
buttons, galleries, and cascades.

About Commands Not in the Ribbon

Some commands are not included in the ribbon by default. You can access
these commands by the following methods.
• Add commands not included in the ribbon to the Quick Access toolbar or
the ribbon using the Creo Parametric Options dialog box that opens when you
click File ▶ Options. For more information see Related Links.
• Search a command by name using the Command Search tool ( ) located
next to . To run the command, click the command in the search list. For
more information see Related Links.

To Open or Close the Navigator

Click on the status bar to open or close the navigator.

About the Menu Manager

The Menu Manager is a series of cascading menus that you use to perform
some tasks within Creo Parametric. The Menu Manager menus change
depending on the mode. Some of the Menu Manager menu options are
duplicated in the menu bar menus.
Customizing the Menu Manager
You can customize the Menu Manager by creating a menu_def.pro file and
storing it in your working directory.
Note
If a menu default entry has already been defined for a particular menu in the
loadpoint directory menu_def.pro file, any conflicting definitions in the local
menu_def.pro file (in the working directory) are ignored.

About the Dashboard

The dashboard is a context-sensitive area at the top of the Creo Parametric

window that guides you through the modeling process. As you select
geometry in the graphics window and set your preferences, the dashboard
narrows your available options, so you make only targeted modeling
decisions. The dashboard consists of the dialog bar, panels, message area,
and the control area.
Dialog Bar
You perform most of your modeling tasks in the graphics window and the
dialog bar. When you activate a tool, the dialog bar displays commonly used
options and collectors.
Panels
To perform advanced modeling actions or retrieve comprehensive feature
information, use the panels. Click one of the tabs above the dialog bar, and
its panel opens. Because both the tabs and their corresponding panels are
context sensitive, different tabs and panel elements are displayed,
depending on the current modeling context. Default values are provided in
some cases.
To open another panel, click its tab. To close a panel, click its tab and the
panel slides back into the dashboard.
Message Area
As you work with your model, Creo Parametric confirms your actions and
guides you through the modeling process with text messages in the message
area below the dialog bar. The message area contains all messages for the
current modeling session. To find an earlier message, scroll the message list
or drag the sash to expand the message area.
Text messages address two conditions:
• System functions
• Modeling actions
Each message is preceded by an icon to indicate the category of the
message:
—Prompt
—Informational
—Warning
—Error
—Critical
The message window continues to display messages even if you pause a tool
and the dashboard is unavailable.
Control Area
The control area of the dashboard contains the following elements:

—Pauses the current tool, temporarily returning you to the default

system state in which you can make selections. Any features that you create
while the original tool is paused are placed in a Group in the Model Tree
along with the original feature when completed.

—Resumes a paused tool.

—Activates Verify mode for the feature displayed in the graphics window.

To stop Verify mode, click again or click . The check box, when
selected, activates dynamic preview, which you can use to view your
changes to the model as you perform them.

—Complete the tool with the current settings.

—Cancels the current tool.

About the Dashboard

The dashboard is a context-sensitive area at the top of the Creo Parametric

window that guides you through the modeling process. As you select
geometry in the graphics window and set your preferences, the dashboard
narrows your available options, so you make only targeted modeling
decisions. The dashboard consists of the dialog bar, panels, message area,
and the control area.

Dialog Bar

You perform most of your modeling tasks in the graphics window and the
dialog bar. When you activate a tool, the dialog bar displays commonly used
options and collectors.
Panels

To perform advanced modeling actions or retrieve comprehensive feature

information, use the panels. Click one of the tabs above the dialog bar, and
its panel opens. Because both the tabs and their corresponding panels are
context sensitive, different tabs and panel elements are displayed,
depending on the current modeling context. Default values are provided in
some cases.
To open another panel, click its tab. To close a panel, click its tab and the
panel slides back into the dashboard.

Message Area

As you work with your model, Creo Parametric confirms your actions and
guides you through the modeling process with text messages in the message
area below the dialog bar. The message area contains all messages for the
current modeling session. To find an earlier message, scroll the message list
or drag the sash to expand the message area.
Text messages address two conditions:
• System functions
• Modeling actions
Each message is preceded by an icon to indicate the category of the
message:
—Prompt
—Informational
—Warning
—Error
—Critical
The message window continues to display messages even if you pause a tool
and the dashboard is unavailable.
Control Area
The control area of the dashboard contains the following elements:

—Pauses the current tool, temporarily returning you to the default

system state in which you can make selections. Any features that you create
while the original tool is paused are placed in a Group in the Model Tree
along with the original feature when completed.

—Resumes a paused tool.

—Activates Verify mode for the feature displayed in the graphics window.

To stop Verify mode, click again or click . The check box, when
selected, activates dynamic preview, which you can use to view your
changes to the model as you perform them.

—Complete the tool with the current settings.

—Cancels the current tool.

About Entering Data

When you are prompted to enter data in the message area, a dialog box, or
a panel, you can either accept the default value or enter a new value.
Complete the data entry in one of the following ways:
• Press ENTER.
• Click or OK.
• Middle-click.

Note
You can usually cancel data entry operations by pressing ESC or clicking
Cancel or .

Cutting and Pasting Text in Windows

You can use the mouse or keyboard to cut, copy, and paste text from a
system window, a Creo Parametric window, or a message window. However,
you cannot cut and paste either prompt text in the message area or online
Help text.

Entering Arithmetic Expressions

When you are prompted for a numeric value, you can enter an arithmetic
expression involving numbers, functions, operations, and parameter symbol
names. For example:
Enter value [2.53]: 2*((3/8)/7)+ceil(d5)
The following basic arithmetic operators are supported:
• + addition
• - subtraction
• / division
• * multiplication
• ( ) grouping, for example, d0=(d1-d2)*d3
• ^ exponentiation
Working with Fractions
Dimension entry and display can be in decimal or fractional format. If you
are working with fractions instead of decimal values, you must enter the
number as an equation. For example, enter the value 1 1/8 as 1+1/8. This
value appears as 1-1/8. You can create fractions automatically using
configuration file options, or you can work in decimal format and convert
specific dimensions to fractions.

About Dialog Boxes

Most dialog boxes support a set of related functions. For example, the view
reorientation, zooming, panning, spinning, and spin-center functions are all
available in the Orientation dialog box (View ▶ Orientation ▶ Reorient).
Many dialog boxes are also dynamic, and options change as you make
selections. For example, the Orientation dialog box changes depending on the
selection under Type.
As a rule, a function in the dialog box is available if:
• The function is appropriate for the state of the window or object or for the
product type (Part, Assembly, Sketcher, Layout, and so on).
• The software required for using the function is installed. For example, if
Pro/INTRALINK is installed, certain buttons on the File Open dialog box are
available.
Performing Default Actions
Most dialog boxes in Creo Parametric have a default button, denoted by a
black border. You can perform the default action quickly in three different
ways:
• Click the button.
• Middle-click within the Creo Parametric window.
• Press ENTER.