Creo Parametric - Search Path File | Configuration

[@kalpitkatpara4363]

Always learn so much from your videos! Thank you for creating such quality content for youtube community and providing us a great learning platform

[@fredericdancray5933]

Thanks , since several years i always used search_path in a local config.pro but , It may runs , In the directory of the assembly create a config.pro containing the option search_path_file pointing to a search_path.pro file witch contains several relative path .

[@michaelpiotto4988]

I don't really like the idea that it will search these paths every time you open an assembly, is there a way to avoid this and only search these paths if I open a specific assembly. (or am i missing something here)

[@CADPLMGuy]

Use a PLM system like Windchill.

[@dsquared7017]

Is it possible to use this functionality if you have spaces within in the file paths. I've tried and it doesn't seem possible unfortunately?

[@CADPLMGuy]

Enclose the path in double quotations.

[@dsquared7017]

@@CADPLMGuy Thanks, all working now. I use both SolidWorks and Creo on a regular basis but find it incredibly frustrating how you need to have basic programming skills to set options in the latter. I know ProE was written in the 80s but surly it's time to join the Windows revolution 😂

[@CADPLMGuy]

You don’t need programming skills. I’m a testament to that. I’ve written books on configuring Creo and I can’t program for crap. The search path file is just a text file. And of course if you’re using PDM it’s irrelevant.

[@kiasso749]

hello, does it work when you have folders on a NAS?

[@CADPLMGuy]

It works fine as long as Creo can reach those network folders.

[@fredericdancray5933]

oh i saw in your config.pro the option autobuildz on yes , do you think it's an useful tools and still relevant

[@CADPLMGuy]

I do have it turned on... I use it almost never, but I like that the functionality is there.

[@h2w..]

Strange the Creo DOES NOT search children of folder with assembly file, and loosing referenced parts from tose folders.

[@CADPLMGuy]

Because then opening files would take FOREVER. This is why Windchill is much better for CAD data management than a local file system.

[@chrismerani5330]

These are the things that us seasoned veterans know but new users struggle with. It's a very powerful concept but one thing you did not mention is that if you have a file with the same name existing in two of your folders listed in the search paths you may end up with unexpected results. ie. PRT01.prt in two folders but they are different parts, creo may open the one from a different assembly and not know how to assemble it.

[@chrismerani5330]

So in other words, create multiple search path files, that represent only the folders related to a specific assembly.

[@chrismerani5330]

One other small tip, is to create multiple desktop shortcuts to your creo Exe that have different "start in" locations pointing to the root folder where your config.pro file resides for that particular assembly/project. This way when you start creo, it automatically loads the correct config.pro file and has also already read your related search path file

[@CADPLMGuy]

Interesting, Chris. Do you reuse the same filenames a lot in different folders?

[@chrismerani5330]

@@CADPLMGuy not typically but there have been times where there may be generic parts. Or if you have different revisions of the same assembly and those assemblies may have some of the same parts but different revisions. It's not a common issue but I've seen it happen before. Also, I don't use windchill, but I've been using creo since it was proEngineer2001. Just thought it was worth mentioning because if someone creates one big search path file that contains all directories, they may come across the issue and not understand why their assembly is trying to include parts they didn't expect. Otherwise this is a great helper video. Many new users are intimidated by config files but once you understand them they are a huge help. Same with the drawing dtl files