Archive for the ‘admin’ Category

Pro/E tip (admin): PTC video codec

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

I had some problems previously viewing some instructional videos at PTC.com. I guess I didn’t see it, or maybe PTC finally realized people were having trouble, but you need the TechSmith Screen Capture Codec to view a lot of the PTC.com video library.

UPDATE: If you ever get stuck with a video that doesn’t play, download a little program called GSpot. (And don’t blame me if big brother asks why you’re Googling “gspot”!!!) It will tell you what codec you need. If it’s H.264 or MPEG-4, trip on over to DivX.com for a free download that will fix you right up. (You also need DirectX installed.)

 PTC demos and tips directory page. (Valid PTC account and registration required)

Pro/E tip (admin): PTC Enhancement Details Page

Monday, July 27th, 2009

PTC: Enhancement Details: Most Popular

Nice way to catch up on functionality changes between versions

Pro/E tip (admin): Product View Express

Monday, July 20th, 2009

Looks like the latest version is 9.1.

I used to avoid installing PVX because of the 250 file associations it created, but I guess I’m getting lazy. It’s nice to get a quick view of PTC data on disk, so it’s back on my computer.

Not sure what’s great about this release, or what versions ship with Pro/E, but I thought I’d give it a look.

Pro/E Admin: updated startup script

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Since I’ve started working on my own again, I’ve had a chance to update my startup script from long ago. Here’s what I’m trying to do:

  • Make a script that works for multiple versions and multiple clients
  • Create a simple directory structure for project management
  • Maximize script flexibility with system variables

Here’s how “prostart.bat” works:

  • Pro/E is installed in directories by version, e.g. D:\PTC\WF2, D:\PTC\WF3, D:\PTC\WF4
  • Pro/E startup commands correspond to version, e.g. WF2.bat, WF3.bat, WF4.bat
  • The Windows shortcut supplies values to three variables: $VERSION, $CONFIG, $PROJECT
  • Startup directories vary by project and provide last level of config control
  • A startup trail file directs user to personal working directory
  • The config.pro uses  $CONFIG variable to provide flexibility for multiple projects and configs

Shortcut command line:
path_to_startup_batch_dir\prostart.bat version path_to_config_dir path_to_project_dir
Shortcut startup directory: blank because script changes directory to $PROJECT

Simple startup batch file:

@echo off

rem version will come from startup parameter, useful for multiple versions
set VERSION=%1

rem $CONFIG points to config files
set CONFIG=%2

rem $PROJECT is team working directory
set PROJECT=%3

rem Change startup directory according to shortcut, could add configs here
cd /d %PROJECT%

rem Create user work directory below project main directory
set WORKDIR=%PROJECT%\%USERNAME%

rem startup.txt is trail file to change working directory to $WORKDIR and instigate the open file dialogue box

call "D:\PTC\%1\bin\%1.bat" %CONFIG%\startup.txt

Simple startup trail file that still works in WF4:

!trail file version No. 1029
!Pro/ENGINEER TM Release 20.0 (c) 1988-98 by Parametric Technology Corporation All Rights Reserved.
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `main_dlg_cur`
~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1` \
1 `File`
~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `File.wd`
~ Select `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1` \
1 `File`
~ Close `main_dlg_cur` `MenuBar1`
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `File.psh_working_dir`
~ Update `file_open` `Inputname` \
`$WORKDIR`
~ Activate `file_open` `Open`
~ Activate `main_dlg_cur` `ProCmdModelOpen.file`

Also.

There’s a default config.pro setting: “search_path_file $PROJECT”. Each project can create a subdirectory of reference parts, multiple user subdirectories, and a vault.

And..

I still prefer to install Pro/E outside the Windows “Program Files” hierarchy. PTC may feel the need to comply with M$oft programming guidelines, but I remember PTC’s early problems with spaces in directory names. A side benefit of a separate install location (like D:\PTC) is that I don’t compete with permission enforcement for program directories, and I can do remote installs with simple scripts.

And…

You don’t need Pro/E on your Windows path. If you’re running multiple versions, it’s better that you don’t. If your life depends on “ptcstatus”, create a Windows shortcut.

How to change the binding order of network adapters

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

I stumble across this problem on ocassion with VPN clients and wireless interfaces interfering with PTC’s hostid detection:

How to change the binding order of network adapters in Windows XP and in Windows 2000

Start > Run > ncpa.cpl > LAN or High-Speed Internet > Advanced > Advanced Settings

binding

Pro/E tip (config): use_temp_dir_for_inst yes

Monday, May 18th, 2009

I can’t believe I haven’t written about this option before, but since I’m reviewing my config for WF4, I need to include it for completeness.

You have to wonder: How could PTC ever have set the default to “no”? I mean, family table operations are almost when Pro/E regenerating all those models on a network drive!

Anyhow, I assume everyone has included this option in their configs. As a matter of fact, this might be the first option I put in a config.sup after “company_name”.

Plotting vs. printing, lettering vs. typing, PTC vs. Windows

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

I had to rewrite this page. It was a mess! The new title seems dramatic but explains my point a lot better.

I’m working on some ideas for PDF’s and type styles, text heights, and line spacing because I think it’s time to leave the PTC/plotting/lettering paradigm behind and move on to the Windows/printing/typing paradigm. It’s time to put down your Ames Lettering Guides and shelve your copy of Lettering for Draftsmen, Engineers, and Students.

Let me explain:

Pro/ENGINEER uses a stroked font which emulates hand lettering as practiced since the early 1900′s. As a result, PTC’s plot routines output Postscript arcs and lines which are meaningless to search algorithms in Acrobat. Companies using PDF’s for drawing distribution would realize huge benefits from indexed searches of PDF’s if Pro/ENGINEER could be configured to produce a legible drawing using True Type fonts.

And so, it’s time to shift paradigms from lettering / plotting to typography / printing. PTC has done a good job of replicating hand-drawn images on screen, but their competition, which originated on Windows, follows the typography / printing paradigm and so creates a more valuable PDF.

Unfortunately, PTC and its users are a slave to history. It won’t be easy to switch, but it can be done. A good time might be the upgrade to WF3+. Maybe a decent mapkey to switch default font would help. Anyhow…

This image is Pro/E with .1″ text height:

PTC's text height is misleading

PTC's text height is actually "Cap height"

Pro/E’s line spacing of 150% compensates for the descenders and does not equate to typography’s definition of line spacing. It’s close, but not really 120%, which is typical for type.

The true point size is closer to 72 x .133 or 9.6

The true point size is closer to 72 x .133 or 9.6

Biggest challenge is to find a font with the same .8 aspect ratio as the Pro/E default, so missing fonts will not affect drawing integrity. I’m leaning towards the Lucida family, but who knows?

8pt
8pt

10pt
10pt

12pt
12pt

Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard * Creating PDF indexes

Pro/E tip (admin): Browser favorites file directory

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

Ever wonder where Pro/E keeps your built-in browser favorites list?

PTC keeps three files called “connections_conf.xml, web_favorites.xml, and web_history.xml” in a hidden directory (dictated by Microsoft).

%USERPROFILE%\Application Data\PTC\ProENGINEER\Wildfire\.wf\.Settings

HINT: Copy the string above and paste in a finder window.

If you want to delete your web history, delete web_history.xml. If you want to install default browser favorites, copy web_favorites.html to this directory. Make changes when Pro/E’s not running or you’ll get overwritten.

Note: %USERPROFILE% is usually your “Documents and Settings” folder

Pro/E Tip (admin): Free FlexLM License Monitor

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

I’ve never used this, so I have no recommendation in favor or against, but I think it’s worth recognizing this effort. If you have comments, please add them here.

Jason’s Freeware FlexLM License Monitor

A little DOS batch hack: dates for filenames

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

for /f “tokens=2-4 delims=/ ” %%i in (“%date%”) do copy foo.bat foo%%k%%i%%j.bak

Thought I’d save this for reference. I’ve seen more complicated ways to create “yyyymmdd” strings, but this seems to work pretty well for me.