I would like to open attachments directly to my CAD documents in Windchill.

This is interesting for CREO Parametric documents to open the IGES and STEP neutral file attachments

But this is even more interesting when I want to open with Creo Parametric file attachments of a ECAD document as IDF (* .emp, .emn *)

Today it is possible to download the attachment to its local disk, but impossible in the Workspace.

Hi

We have started using Windchill & WT parts to manage all the information of our products. We started to store pdf versions of our drawing (for quick reference) in WT parts, but having to do the process for multiple items can take lots of time (go to WT part, checkout part, Create new Reference document, add pdf to reference document, checkin everything, rince & repeate...)

I recently learned about the Import from spreadsheet in Windchill and was able to create a simple tool to let a user bulk load multiple WTpart. I was wondering if it was possible to import spreadsheets to do the following tasks:

-Create a Reference Document part

-Add a pdf to the Reference Document (if could be defined with a path)

-Add this new Reference Document to a WTpart (of the same number)

Is this too much for the Import from spreadsheet function? If it is possible, what would be the required attributes in the Excell spreadsheet? If it is not possible, are there any way to manage documentation in a more effective way?

We are using Windchill 10.2

Thank you

Hello Friends,

I would like to know if there are any custom utilities/reports written to export the complete Softtype Definition information from Windchill 9.1 System. The information is needed to move the complete Softtype, Attribute, and Constraint updates from Development to Test and Production servers. It is also needed to store the configuration file in SVN for new system setup.

Any help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thanks & Best Regards,

Mahesh KL

This weekend i'm going to be shutting down our server taking a snapshot in Vcenter and performing an upgrade from M30 to M050

Hopefully this should sort a few of our problems here are there!

Just wondering if anyone has any tips / tricks or has ran into any problems whilst doing the upgrade?

Everything is located on one server e.g. oracle database & apache server & windchill server & file vaults are all on the same server which should makes things a little easier!

This is my first windchill system upgrade, have read through the documentation and doesn't look too difficult!

Thanks,

I want to design a drop down list depending to another in PDMLink 10.2

Sample :

If user chooses into the drop down list "A", value "Val1_A", then my down list "B", displayed values "Val1_B" and "Val2_B"

If user chooses into the drop down list "A", value "Val2_A", then my down list "B", displayed values "Val2_B" and "Val2_C"

Thx,

Romain

We have it installed & monitoring, and we've changed the dashboard & even sent some reports via email, but we feel it can do a whole lot more. The documentation shows how to install it, but is a little light on using it.

Hallo all,

many people on this forum gave me inspiration to develop better part numbering in our company. Have a new idea hot to make semi-autonumbering. This technique is suitable for manufactured parts. For a buying/ordered parts will discusse later.

l will be glad to hear any critique, note that l see the problem mainly from CAD user/engineer point of view.

Please see picture below.

Company workspaces:

Workspaces naming convention includes the first part of product number.

It consits of two main part with a "-" as a separator ---> product number - short logical description ---> example> 11010-CWT (in our company everyone knows what CWT means)

My imagine about function:

- l´m working on 11010-CTW project

- set workspace to this project

- create a new part

- new part will be autonumbered like following:

    - because my active workspace is 11010-CTW so WCH will extract "11010" automaticly from workspace name

    - because autonumbering is ON WCH will create a number after a dash (this number is filtered in part relations to drawing number)

What l expect:

- WCH has full control of NUMBER and FILE NAME ---> no more has to solve renaming parts/drawing from the duplicity reason ("part is not unique").

- drawing number is include in file name and extract with relation ---> each drawing number is unique

Reasons why l choose this:

- keep it simply

- keep some logical file naming (year and proct number in this year is anough for a rough orientation)

- make clear difference between projects

How to continue?

- what function shall i used for workspace name filter (11010) --- need to show some direction (don´t like a blind exploring)

---------------

l like your comments like: "What happen if ...?"

If you see some mistake point it please.

Thanks in any advice, commets, tips or tricks

Hi,

We have the main Windchill server in Belgium and have users in different countries (companies) across the globe. During an assessment by PTC to whom his account the licenses will be counted ?

Regards,

Bernard

We have a problem with our Production Windchill installation which I am unable to replicate on our Test Installation.  Windchill is currently installed on a Windows 2003 Virtual Machine and the Oracle database on a separate server.  Does anyone know or has anybody successfully managed to take a copy of  a Winchill Virtual Machine, change the Host Name, IP Address, etc and get Winchill up and running?  I would change any references in all the Windchill files to use the new Host name and new database also.  This would hopefully then give me an installation which I can replicate the initial problem on.   Do you think this is possible?

We are moving our Windchill PDM link data to PTC's cloud, but first I want/need to extract the data from the VM it is currently residing on. Our VAR recommended this tool but before I buy it I was hoping to get some feedback from other users.

thanks

Dear Users,

I am able to redirect my form processor to any of the "Tab" under Part info page using tdltype and tldaction . But this does not work for Structure Tab.

On complete of my Action i wanted to redirect the page to structures tab of the part. Pls suggest ideas. Thanks

Regards,

Sri

I am looking for a site that offers instructor-led training in creating and modifying Workflows, Lifecycles and OIRs.

Looking for a class before the end of September.

Virtual Workflow training class by PTC doesn't work with our environment.

We are a captive mold and stamping shop that has grown steadily over the years. It has become more and more difficult to manage all the components that we are producing for a tool build.  We are looking into shop floor management software.  I was wondering if there is anyone out there that would like to share the good or bad experiences they have had implementing ERP and recommend any systems.

Thanks!

Craig Broetzmann

Strattec Security Corp

3333 W Good Hope Rd

Milwaukee, WI 53209

(414)247-3497

cbroetzm@strattec.com

Are you experiencing poor server performance managing Pro/E, Creo or Windchill Workgroup Manager (CAD) data in Windchill?

Are users complaining that when working with CAD data, interaction with Windchill or the Workspace is slow?

Do you wonder what you should do to setup or tune a Windchill server for interaction with clients working with CAD data?

Initial performance tuning of a Windchill server doesn't have to be overly complicated and time consuming process.  Time spent tuning the Windchill server will improve performance and ensure users have the best possible interaction with the Windchill.  Let's walk through the following:

• Resources that are available to guide you during tuning
• Server properties and preferences to set
• Database tuning
• Other considerations
  

Resources

• Technical Support Article CS24192 [TS KP] Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire, Creo or Windchill Workgroup Manager Interaction with PDMLink - Recommended Initial Performance Server Settings contains all the suggestions we'll be walking through and more.  I'd suggest you review and bookmark it for use while tuning your server.
• Click Add a comment at the bottom of this blog post and I'll do my best to answer your question
• Ask PTC Community
• Perform a Technical Support Search as the Knowledge base is full of useful information
• Open a Technical Support Case online or make a call to a Worldwide Support office

Server Properties and Preferences

Some settings and preferences are general in nature while others are specific to a particular Windchill version.  Although the steps to tune a 9.1, 10.0, 10.1 and 10.2 server vary (typically more to do with older releases), I'll cover the typical steps you'll do with most installations (eg. 10.x releases).  Refer to CS24192 for full detail for each Windchill release from 9.1 to 10.2 and MOR releases in between.

• Configure common Windchill properties using the Windchill Configuration Assistant (WCA)

The WCA will inspect the server (identify available resources like CPUs, RAM, etc.) and suggest changes to wt.properties and other property files.  Note that WCA execution is done automatically when installing using the 10.0 and later PTC Solution Installer.  If you've upgraded/changed hardware since initial installation or it didn't run on initial installation, you'll want to run it again.  See CS40846 and CS153338 for additional detail.

• Set optimal collection preferences for common operations via Preference Management

Set defaults for operations like Add to Workspace, Check Out, Check In, Revise, Save As, etc. to collect minimal dependencies (None or Required):

If users need different default values, they can make changes in personal preferences or in the Basic/Advanced collectors when performing the operation.

• Create or edit the default Workspace table Views so that they display a minimal amount of information

For releases prior to 10.2 M030, avoid default table displays with additional status columns (eg. Compare Status, Out of Date, etc.) as when those columns are included, the client must make additional and expensive requests to the server when refreshing the Workspace.  See CS150977 for additional information.

• If Save As performance is poor, set preference save.as.trace.circular.dependents=false

For some datasets, circular dependency processing when performing Save As can sometimes be an issue (take a long time).  Configure to not trace circular dependents if performance issues have been observed performing Save As.  See CS51570 and CS3348 for additional information.

• Set wt.properties com.ptc.core.collectionsrv.engine.isIntralinkTracingEnabled=true if using later 10.x releases

Out of the box, Windchill can in some case trace dependencies for objects not explicitly requested by the user (eg. perform full dependency tracing for drawing dependents when the drawing is included in collection via Include Drawings).  This can in some cases result in long time waiting for the server to process collection requests (eg. when performing an Add to Workspace).  Making this change will disable the additional dependency tracing and should improve performance .  See CS57721& CS127319 for additional detail.

• Consider custom values for wt.properties com.ptc.core.collectionsrv.engine.limitDependencyTracing and com.ptc.core.collectionsrv.engine.collected_result_limit if using later 10.x releases

Dependency tracing for large or complex datasets can in some cases cause server performance issues.  If you observe performance issues with collection of dependents, see CS99609 and CS16012 for additional information.

• Set wvs.properties publish.retrievallfiles=false, publish.retrieveallfiles.PROE=false or publish.retrieveallfiles.CATIAV5=false if publishing with filesync CAD workers

The out of the box WVS dependency tracing publish.retrievallfiles=all setting is only needed for non-filesync CAD workers and can result in longer than necessary publishing times and put unnecessary load on the server and database.  If you're using filesync workers (most customers are or should be!), make this setting for improved performance.  See CS76293 and CS34783 for additional information.

• Configure the webserver with a 60 second KeepAliveTimeout

This setting keeps the network port between a client and server open longer than the 5 or 15 second default and allows the client to reuse an open network connection for up to 60 seconds.  As a result, response times for SSL and HTTP connections is improved.  As a side benifit, Internet Explorer doesn't work well with KeepAliveTimeout values ≠ 60.  Setting this value to 60 will reduce the number of offline client sessions as well.  See CS19706 and CS65884 for additional detail.

• Review Windchill Configuration Settings Which Aid in Scaling to Production and make changes to <Windchill>\db\db.properties or database settings to prevent runaway queries that can impact server performance

The Methodserver and database will in most cases try to process all requests that are made regardless of whether or not the request may overload the Methodserver and database.  Making a couple changes to db.properties can improve performance as it prevents high load, long running transactions from consuming all resources.

Database Tuning

The Windchill database is a primary component in any Windchill installation as requests made to the Windchill Methodserver invariably have to be processed by the database.  Having a properly sized (enough memory) and functioning database (proper database indexes) is key to good overall performance.

• Create database indexes to improve database performance

The database frequently is a performance bottleneck when Windchill is processing information for CAD objects.  Start with CS75632 and CS151400 for Windchill 9.1 installations and CS98135 for Windchill 10.0, 10.1 and 10.2 installations as they contain indexes that are known to improve database performance for not only CAD object processing but other operations.

• Periodically review and monitorSite > Utilities > Server Status for high percentage of Method Context Time is spent in JDBC Callsor PTC System Monitor (PSM)to determine if a high percentage of time is reported as being spent in the database (if there is a suggestion that the database is performing poorly):

Here's an example of Server Status showing a large amount of time in JDBC (database) calls:

Here's an example of PSM showing a much smaller amount of time spent in the database for a user transaction:

• Additional diagnosis, tuning and sizing of the database by all means can be done, but is outside of the scope of this blog post.  Refer to the following or collect Performance task detail from System Configuration Collector (Windchill System Configuration Collector (SCC) FAQ) along with test results and contact Technical Support if you're interested in taking a deeper look at the database:
  • CS51777 - Tuning Oracle and Interpreting the Oracle Gather Info Script Output
  • CS46060 - Where is the Oracle "gather_info_script.sql" located in Windchill
  • CS123644 - Where to find SQLServer diagnostic script for Windchill
  • CS139203 - SQL Statements taking too long in Oracle
  • CS49024 - Are there some best practices around SQL server database and Windchill PDMLink ?

Other Considerations

There are many other things that can be done to improve, diagnose and monitor performance.  Depending on your environment, some may have a large impact while others may not.  Take a look and let me know if you have any questions or comments:

• Client tuning

See the following blog post: Configuring Creo Parametric and Windchill Workgroup Manager Clients for CAD Data Management Performance

• Vaulting and Replication to WAN File Servers

Staging and maintaining File Servers can be a bit more involved from an administration perspective but for WAN users, being able to upload and download content from a local File Server is a big benefit.  See Windchill Vaulting and Replication Planning - Technical Brief for additional information.

• Implement a clustered environment for high load installations

Customers with many users can easily generate enough activity that a clustered Windchill environment (configuring multiple machines with multiple Method servers) to service client requests is necessary.  See Windchill Architecture Overview for additional information.

• For WAN clients with high latency and low bandwidth, implement caching proxy and/or WAN accelerator

Even if you have WAN File Servers that are local to WAN users, WAN clients still interact with the master Methodserver over the WAN for all information and requests other than content.  If you latency is high (eg. 250+ ms) and bandwidth low, consider implementing caching proxies and WAN accelerators to improve interaction with the Windchill server.  Refer to WAN Accelerators and Windchill Performance - Technical Brief for additional information.

• Monitor and diagnose server performance with PTC System Monitor (PSM)

PSM is free and powerful tool available that can be used to easily monitor activity and performance of Windchill servers.  Refer to the following for more detail:

• PSM resource page
• CS126670 - How to use the PTC System Monitor (PSM) in Workgroup Manager Transaction Performance Diagnosis

• Benchmark the system before and after tuning and/or compare to PTC Performance QA results

Last but not least, collecting a benchmark of system performance before and after tuning is important as it allows you to gauge the impact of your tuning activity.  Collect detail and/or test with a standard Creo dataset available from PTC and review posted results from PTC QA.  See the following for additional detail:

• Windchill Creo Data Management Performance Benchmark Test - Instructions
• Windchill Creo Data Management Performance Benchmark Test – Preliminary Dataset (82 KB)
• Windchill Creo Data Management Performance Benchmark Test - Data Sheet
• Windchill Creo Data Management Performance Benchmark Test – World Car Dataset (295 MB)

If benchmark results with the Windchill Creo Data Management Performance Benchmark Test Dataset are not close to or better than PTC QA results reported in the Windchill Creo Data Management Performance Benchmark Test - Data Sheet or performance with other datasets does not meet expectations, collect Performance task detail from System Configuration Collector (Windchill System Configuration Collector (SCC) FAQ) along with test results and contact Technical Support.

That's it!  I hope you find this information interesting and of use.  As always, comments and feedback are very welcome.

I have written a  Java-Based web service and the service is working properly. Also I  compiled the client java code and have no issues with it.

But the problem is I need to specify the ".jks" files in the xml files under META-INF folder in client jar. Is there anyway to specify the jks files or import certificates to the client system (JAVA based applications).

the example given in the I*E guide is to import the certificate for the C# clients.

Hi,

We have the main Windchill server in Belgium and have users in different countries (companies) across the globe. During an assessment by PTC to whom his account the licenses will be counted ?

Regards,

Bernard

I have a sub type of wtpart called Regulatory Request.

I have added line item table at step 3 in createpart.jsp.

Line item step is showing for all wtpart subtype. I would like to display the step 3 only for regulatory request.

Thanks,

Sithik

Dear community,

I need to find out what database tables store the information about the bill of material of the products. Need to find out the top level nodes and all linked epm documents or parts.

What we try to do is get the files of all products so we can Export all products from windchill.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Is it possible to update directly from WC10.2M010 CPS05 --->WC10.2M030 CPS05 skipping from wc10.2M030

Update Path

WC10.2M010 CPS05 --->WC10.2M030-->WC10.2M030 CPS05 (repeative update steps)

WC10.2M010 CPS05 --->WC10.2M030 CPS05 (any chance to update directly to M030CPS05?)

Not getting good results from the below document

http://support.ptc.com/WCMS/files/35412/en/WCSupportedUpgradePaths_71515.pdf