Plan CAD Data Migration

Recommended Steps

Overview: Get Started with Creo Parametric

Your project team, along with your current system current data experts, should plan what data to migrate to Creo Parametric. You may want to migrate everything, but often customers find there is little to no need to migrate all of it. Learn more below.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

01. Set Realistic Expectations

Having realistic expectations is the biggest challenge when planning computer-aided design (CAD) data migration. Customers often want to migrate all their CAD data and expect Creo Parametric to have identical features available. This is an incorrect expectation. The technology to have an automatic full-feature migration does not and will not exist.

First, a full data and features migration will result in wasted resources. End users can open and view third-party CAD data in Creo Parametric without migrating it. For example, you can open and view a retired product from your current system in Creo Parametric. Imagine how much time and money you will save by not migrating all your CAD data.

Your migrated CAD data will not have the same feature content from your current system. You will build in better features going forward with Creo Parametric, and end users can modify the geometry using Creo Parametric’s Flexible Modeling functionality.

Recommended Resources

Working with Imported CAD Data Using the Creo Flexible Modeling Extension
How to access "Flexible Modeling" tab in Creo Parametric
eSupport PTC login required

02. Evaluate Data Needs

Prioritize what data your organization needs to migrate and avoid migrating data that will not change in the future.

For each of your products, consider:

Does your industry or business require a record of all retired products?
How complex is the CAD data?
How long are your product development cycles?
- For example, do your projects last months, quarters, or years?
What stage of the design or product lifecycle are they in?

If early in the design or product stage, migrate early would be beneficial to use Creo Parametric to build a more robust design.
If late in the design or product stage, it may be easier to finish the design in the CAD software.

Will there be minimal or dramatic changes to product designs in the future?
Are there products that are retired or will have no changes made in the future?

03. Choose a Migration Method

Consider how you will migrate the CAD data you prioritized in the previous step. There are three main methods to migrate your data to Creo Parametric:

Remodel All Parts and Assemblies

Start from the beginning and remodel all your parts and assemblies in Creo Parametric.

Advantages
- Creo Parametric will model your parts and assemblies better than your current CAD software
- Works well if your projects are small, so the re-master cost is minimal
- Re-modeling can be viewed as a training opportunity
Disadvantages
- Large and complex models take time to remodel
- May use resources to convert designs that will not change in the future
- Expensive
- Delays the deployment process

Conduct a Feature-by-feature Translation

Use a third-party software or service partner to determine how to model parts and assemblies by comparing your current CAD software features with Creo Parametric features.

Advantages
- Reasonably good feature-based models at a lower cost than re-mastering
- Could be used for products that are medium or larger in size
Disadvantages
- Feature translation is not a perfect process
- Will not get feature-based translation for cabling, piping, or interactive surface design
- May use resources to convert designs that will not change in the future
- Expensive
- Delays the deployment process

Open Files in Creo Parametric and Modify as Needed

Open non-PTC data in Creo Parametric and view it with our Unite technology. You can easily re-use and incorporate current CAD data with Unite.

Advantages
- Convert data as needed, when needed
- Can use Creo Parametric’s multi-CAD tools
- Import a single part of an assembly and make a change without importing the entire assembly
- Easily re-use current 2D and 3D data with minimal product data management effort
- Increase engineering productivity and IT efficiency
- Enable a “design anywhere, build anywhere” strategy

For any 3D drawings you migrate, the 2D drawings will not migrate with the 3D models. This is true for all paths and for any of our competitors. However, the Legacy Migration Extension provides tools to re-associate the 3D models and the 2D drawings.

Recommended Resources

Unite Technology Data Sheet
What is the difference between Open and Import in Creo Parametric when retrieving 3rd Party CAD Models in session
eSupport PTC login required
Unite Technology - PTC Creo Showcase
(Youtube.com)
About the Creo Unite Technology
Help Center

04. Plan When to Retire the Current CAD System

Determine how you want to transition from your current CAD system to Creo Parametric. Some organizations won’t retire their current CAD system immediately. They may use their CAD system and Creo Parametric in parallel. On the other hand, your organization may want to only use Creo Parametric going forward to get the most out of Creo Parametric’s functionality.

Consider these questions and their impact on your business as you plan when to retire your current CAD system:

Will you choose a specific date for your end users to only use Creo Parametric to complete their work?
If you keep your current CAD software, how will you determine what type of work will be done in it versus in Creo Parametric?
Will current products be finished and left in the current CAD software?
Will new products only start in Creo Parametric?

05. Verify Product Lifecycle Management System

Many customers use a product lifecycle management (PLM) or enterprise data management software to manage their CAD data.

Consider how your organization maintains CAD data today and how that may change with Creo Parametric:

Is your current data management strategy compatible with Creo Parametric?
Will you need to update your data management strategy?
Would you want to upgrade your PLM system and use PTC’s PLM solution, Windchill?

Previous Step

Plan and Measure Key Performance Indicators

Next Step

Plan Deployment

Get Started with Creo Parametric

Everything you need to get started with Creo Parametric

This is a PDF version of Get Started with Creo Parametric - Plan CAD Data Migration . downloaded on Date : 4/3/2025 7:53:50 AM and may be out of date. For full latest version click here.

Get Familiar with Creo Parametric

Assemble Your Team

Evaluate and Acquire Hardware

Assess Changes to Design Process

Examine Modeling Methods

Plan and Measure Key Performance Indicators

Plan CAD Data Migration

Plan Deployment

Plan Communications

Plan Adoption and Training Activities

Plan Creo Parametric Support Strategy

Set Up Your Account

Download and Install Software

Set Up Licenses

Configure and Customize Creo Parametric

Define Your CAD Templates

Test and Validate

Prepare Your Users

Go Live

Provide Support

Measure Business Impact

Consider Next Steps

Overview: Get Started with Creo Parametric

Use this guide as you plan, implement, and learn to use Creo Parametric. Follow step-by-step instructions and get resources to help you capture and share expert knowledge and meet your business goals. This information is useful for:

CAD Admins
Project Managers
Stakeholders
Technical Staff
Engineers

What is a Success Path?

A Success Path is an online guide to help you implement a specific PTC product at your organization. Each path provides step-by-step instructions from the early planning stages all the way through to deployment. Use a Success Path to help your organization get the most out of a product and achieve your business goals.

See all Success Paths

Get Familiar with Creo Parametric

PTC believes you deserve the best-in-class computer-aided design (CAD) software for your engineering team, and we make significant investments in improving every Creo release. Learn the basics of Creo Parametric and our new top-shelf features.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Learn the Basics

Explore Features and Functionality

01. Learn the Basics

PTC created the first parametric and feature-based solid modeling CAD software in 3D CAD solutions on the market. Back then, it was called Pro/Engineer. Now, our industry-leading software is called Creo Parametric.

Creo Parametric is a full suite of solutions that integrates 3D CAD, computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), and computer aided engineering (CAE) into one software. The variety of functionality, capabilities, and tools help engineers imagine, design, and create products better.

02. Explore Features and Functionality

PTC’s Creo Parametric is a global leader in Product Design 3D CAD software. Read how Creo Parametric helps re-invent how to design, create, and innovate better products with our broad range of functionalities:

Modeling and design: Build better products faster by accelerating product innovation, reusing the best of your design, and replacing assumptions with facts. Go from the earliest phases of product design to a smart, connected product with Creo Parametric.
Simulation and analysis: With simulation, analyze and validate the performance of your 3D virtual prototypes, allowing you to iterate more quickly and design with greater confidence while saving money and time.
Augmented reality: Creo Parametric Augmented Reality (AR) Design Share is included in every seat of Creo Parametric. Companies are changing their product design process to take advantage of this cloud-based technology. Turn a 3D model into an AR experience that everyone can access and use.
Smart connected design: When the power of CAD and IoT come together, access a feedback loop of how products are performing in the field, and how they performed historically, enabling you to design more reliable products.
Additive manufacturing: With additive manufacturing, develop innovative designs, optimize, and print to a variety of printers with ease, all within Creo Parametric.
Model-based definition: A model-based definition is an approach to creating 3D models so that they effectively contain all the data needed to define a product.

Every year Creo Parametric makes it easier to do your job and helps make you more productive. We recommend reviewing the features available with each version of Creo Parametric.

Read about what is new in the latest release of Creo Parametric on the What’s New page.
Read technical details on Creo Parametric’s core features and functionality on the Help Center.
Explore PTC’s case studies to learn how our customers are improving their design with Creo Parametric.

Add-ons and extensions will expand your functionality once Creo Parametric is installed and adopted at your organization.

Recommended Resources

Latest Training Options for Creo Parametric PTC University
Creo Help Centers Help Center
Creo Capabilities
Resource Center

Assemble Your Team

Establish the project team that will be involved with getting end users set up and using Creo Parametric. Consider hiring outside resources to fill in gaps and get expert guidance.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Identify Roles and Responsibilities

Identify Project Stakeholders

Identify Internal Partners

Identify and Engage Your End Users

Identify Training Resources

Determine Outside Resources Needed

01. Identify Roles and Responsibilities

You will need help from a variety of people to pursue your use case and persuade others to use Creo Parametric. Your team is one of the most critical components of a successful deployment of Creo Parametric.

Though their titles may differ, identify who can fulfill these roles on your team:

Project Sponsor
- Serves as the project champion and is accountable for its success
- Defines the scope, timeline, use case(s), goals, and key performance indicators
- Responsible for generating support across the organization and realizing the value of Creo Parametric
Project Manager
- Ensures alignment across teams and is responsible for meeting deadlines, following strategy, and achieving goals throughout the project's life
Organizational Change Manager
- Cultivates support for Creo Parametric across all levels of the organization
- Communicates broadly and consistently about how Creo Parametric will be beneficial for the organization
- Listens to employees’ feedback and concerns about migrating to a new system
- Should be passionate about computer-aided design (CAD) and Creo Parametric, and all the advantages your organization will gain from Creo Parametric
Technical Lead
- Responsible for leading a development team and is responsible for the quality of its technical deliverables
Systems Administrator
- Responsible for the upkeep, configuration, and reliable operation of Creo Parametric
Process Lead
- Responsible for ensuring the technology is thriving across the project
- Works with IT and compliance, coordinates training, and more
Adoption Lead
- Responsible for creating a user adoption strategy to help end users reach their goals
- Will be vital to get end users to use the new functionality and keep usage up
Execution Lead
- Manages the execution of the project and is responsible for driving implementation and champions adoption across the organization
- Organizes subject matter experts and related workshops
Current System Expert
- Understands the organization’s current (and former) system(s)
- Will help create an enhanced design process with Creo Parametric
- Will champion Creo Parametric across the organization
Current Data Expert
- Understands CAD data and your organization’s current data
- Will lead the data migration to Creo Parametric
- Potentially helped move data to the current system or has participated in CAD system migrations previously
  - It would help to have experience in previous data migrations at the organization, so they know lessons learned from previous migrations
Subject Matter Experts
- Share their expertise
- Create existing and future design process documentation to support Creo Parametric's end user training
- Their ongoing commitment is vital to move the project forward
Additional Support
- Members of IT at your organization can help implement and maintain the technology needed for Creo Parametric
- Will also ensure Creo Parametric meets your organization's security and compliance policies

One person may fill more than one of these roles, or you may have several contributors assigned to each role. Depending on the size of your organization and your use case, you may include people from various locations across the business or around the world to build your team.

As you build your Creo Parametric team, engage any employees who are interested in and will use Creo Parametric in their jobs. This will create early engagement and excitement, which will help maintain your momentum.

Regardless of how you structure your team, make sure there is a leader in place to coordinate across teams and ensure you are achieving your goals.

02. Identify Project Stakeholders

Your project will benefit tremendously from leadership support. Cultivate support at various levels of your organization, from high-level business leaders to end users. Ensure leaders communicate the importance of Creo Parametric to their teams in regular forums and feedback sessions. Identify and engage various people across your organization to support your project. The right leaders may vary from business to business.

Leadership support also cultivates collaboration among the teams who use Creo Parametric across your organization. The more your teams interact, share best practices, and work together, the more engagement and support you will generate. You will want to identify:

Corporate Executives
- Your most important stakeholder will be at the executive level.
- Identify a well-respected, well-connected executive who will advocate for adopting Creo Parametric on an ongoing basis.
- Engage executives in parts of the organization that benefits from your project.
Long-term Support Team

Identify the IT support staff, help desk staff, power users, and business stakeholders who will manage and support Creo Parametric in the long term.
Will fix bugs, perform upgrades, and provide end users with support.
Will be important to the success of the software and your return on investment. Involve them early and plan for training, documentation, and a smooth handoff.

Involve representatives of important end user groups throughout the project. Their insights will improve experience design, documentation, training, and change management.

03. Identify Internal Partners

Engage the people who will make decisions and take action on your Creo Parametric deployment. Their support and know-how will be critical assets throughout the deployment process. In your organization, identify who is responsible for:

Security: Who will confirm the software meets security standards?
Infrastructure: Who will ensure your organization’s infrastructure (including network connectivity, security, etc.) is equipped to handle the software?
Hardware management: Who will purchase and maintain additional hardware if needed?
Compliance: Who will verify Creo Parametric meets safety, regulatory, and compliance standards?
Licenses: Who will know and manage which licenses your organization needs? Who will track how many seats are available or are in use?

Contact the appropriate partners and decide their involvement in the program. You will need their help on important tasks.

04. Identify and Engage Your End Users

The key to successfully using Creo Parametric is to engage with the end users of the tool early on. Involve them early to ensure they understand the changes to their workflow and how Creo Parametric will improve what they can accomplish in their role.

With Creo Parametric, engineers can design faster and more accurately. Make sure you include:

Engineers
Designers
Analysts
CAD Administrators

05. Identify Training Resources

Create a core team of Creo Parametric end users who will learn and train others about how Creo Parametric functions. They will serve as a resource for end users.

Also, determine who can create training resources for the organization. Depending on the size of your organization, consult a partner or work with PTC to create those references for you.

06. Determine Outside Resources Needed

When necessary, organizations hire contractors or consultants to bridge skills gaps in their organization. Hire outside resources if internal employees are non-existent or unavailable. PTC and experienced partners can often fill gaps in skill sets and experience that you may not have available internally. Verify that the individuals you hire have the right skills and expertise to help you meet your goals.

Evaluate and Acquire Hardware

Verify you have the appropriate hardware and software to run Creo Parametric on your machines.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Analyze Hardware and Software

Consider PTC Product Compatibility

Consider Security Implications

Consider Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Get Approval on the Hardware and Software Budget

01. Analyze Hardware and Software

When installing Creo Parametric, refer to our guidance on hardware and software requirements (access to this link requires logging into eSupport). Also, refer to the "Read This First" for your version of Creo Parametric. This document is included in the Creo Parametric software download package and can be found by searching the Knowledge Base.

Evaluate what your needs may be:

Hardware Considerations: What type of hardware do you have? (For example, RAM, Monitors, Network, Graphics Cards, Servers, etc.)
Software Considerations: What type of software do you have? (For example, Windows System, FLEXlm/FLEXnet, Internet Browser, OpenGL, etc.)

Depending on your needs and the extensions you choose, there are different hardware requirements. The Creo Parametric Hardware Checker can analyze your system to see if you have the appropriate hardware needed to support Creo Parametric.

If you need to upgrade your hardware, consider your future use cases and if you will need additional hardware for them. For example, Creo Simulation Live (CSL) has different hardware requirements than Creo Parametric. If your organization wants to use CSL, use this opportunity to evaluate and acquire what hardware or software CSL requires and get it now.

Refer to the recommended resources below for links to resources about hardware and software requirements.

Recommended Resources for Hardware

Creo Hardware Checker
Creo View: What are the client system and graphics hardware requirements eSupport PTC login required
Creo View Adapters: Graphics Card and Worker Display Requirements eSupport PTC login required
Hardware Requirements for Creo Simulation Live Help Center

Recommended Resources for Software

Platform Support Summary for Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
FLEXlm/FLEXnet Server Version and Flexnet enabled applications Compatibility Matrix eSupport PTC login required

02. Consider PTC Product Compatibility

Creo Parametric and PLM Software

Consider any PLM system connections you had with your current CAD tool as you prepare to install Creo Parametric. Creo Parametric connects to Windchill, our industry-leading PLM software.

If you use other PTC products:

Evaluate each product's roadmap release dates, end of support, and end of life information. You can find this type of information on our PTC Product Calendar.
Use the Release Advisor to see if your chosen Creo Parametric version is compatible with PTC products, including Windchill, and other popular third-party products.

If you will connect Creo Parametric with a non-PTC PLM System, refer to the documentation provided by the PLM company.

Working with Different Versions of Creo Parametric

We know that product design in Creo Parametric is a highly collaborative process. You may design with multiple internal teams or third-party partners.

If your collaborators use Creo Parametric, align on any version requirements between your teams and partners. Creo Parametric models are fully forward compatible. For example, models from an older Creo Parametric version can be opened in newer Creo Parametric versions. You cannot open files from a newer Creo Parametric version in an older version.

Analyze any potential compatibility differences you may encounter between your Creo Parametric version and the version other collaborators use.

Creo Parametric and Other CAD Systems

When working with other CAD systems, such as CATIA and NX, review Creo Parametric system compatibility and version support information, as well as applications that support the connection.

Recommended Resources

PTC Release Advisor PTC login required
Best Practices for Upgrade, Downgrade & Version Access Compatibility eSupport PTC login required
Supported version of various external file formats in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
Creo Capabilities
Creo Hardware Checker

03. Consider Security Implications

Check your organization’s policies and identify your security requirements. Your IT department will likely have specific rules governing software and data security.

Early in the project, contact the people at your organization who are responsible for vetting new technology. Addressing security concerns early will prevent delays later.

04. Consider Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Depending on your industry, compliance and regulatory guidelines may impact your project. These may include:

Restrictions on what you are able to do
Mandates on things you have to do

Meet with regulatory or quality assurance teams to understand any restrictions or mandates. Document and share those requirements with the team members who will implement Creo Parametric.

05. Get Approval on the Hardware and Software Budget

After you evaluate your hardware and software needs, compile the costs of what your organization needs to acquire. Now consider what this additional hardware will cost. Add up the final costs of:

Internal and external resources
If this project could have any potential financial impact on current operations due to outages, shortages, training, etc.

Take your detailed costs and final project plan back to your executive stakeholders for final review and approval.

Assess Changes to Design Process

Identify the current design to manufacturing process, and then modify the existing process with Creo Parametric. Review and document your existing design process and determine how Creo Parametric will drive improvements to that process. This objective can also be great for people who have IT experience to become more familiar with how design works in Creo Parametric.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Document Existing Design Processes

Document New Design Processes

01. Document Existing Design Processes

Creo Parametric will improve your design processes. As you plan your move to Creo Parametric, evaluate how your current design processes will change and how to update your current design processes. Gather your team, specifically the designers and analysts, and look at all aspects of the current design process. Start by looking at the four core steps of computer-aided design (CAD):

Understanding design requirements: Identifying what exactly needs to be designed. This includes a list of requirements related to size, shape, weight, a factor of safety, durability, etc.
Geometric modeling: Using CAD to create a mathematical description of an object using geometry.
Engineering analysis: Checking the strength of moving objects to determine how they work in the real world.
Design review and evaluation: Design is reviewed and evaluated with the help of CAD software. The feasibility of the design is also checked.

Go step by step to evaluate who interacts at each stage and how they complete their work. Next, complete this activity for the New Part design process, the Part revision process, and the Part rework process.

Tools such as Microsoft Visio can be used to map out these processes. You will want a digital copy primarily for your company’s records and training events and communications to end users as part of a full adoption program.

02. Document New Design Processes

Using the current process mappings, highlight each mention of your design process. Next, insert proactive steps to be done by your engineers through the product design. After adding these steps, review the highlighted steps to see what steps can be removed or modified now that your engineers use Creo Parametric.

When defining your new process, clearly articulate the timing of each step. Create a new set of process documents once you have completed this activity. Use these new process documents when you communicate the upcoming change to your end users and in end user training.

When making significant process changes, it cannot be understated the value of a full adoption plan. This includes a communication plan, a training plan, and support strategy plan. These pieces make up your organization’s adoption plan for Creo Parametric.

Examine Modeling Methods

Every organization has its approach to design, and no two organizations use the same design methodology in the same way. Creo Parametric supports how you design, no matter how you do it. Below we highlight a few design methodologies and provide resources to learn more about how Creo Parametric can help.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Learn more about Model-based Definition

Learn more about Top-down Design

Learn more about Multi-body Design

01. Learn more about Model-based Definition

The single source of truth in 2D design was the (physical) drawing. When using model-based definition, the 3D model contains all data needed to define a product without 2D drawings. Engineers can spend more time analyzing and problem-solving and less time creating design documentation.

Benefits of using the model-based definition:

More flexibility for colleagues across the organization to view and spin the model to understand its specifications.
Reduce documentation-related errors during design and in the production process.
Faster engineering and development design to support better manufacturing, quality assurance, procurement, and service needs.

Visit the resources listed below to learn more about how to use Creo Parametric with model-based definition.

Recommended Resources

Model-Based Definition
The Benefits of Model-Based Definition Initiatives
Realizing Value From MBD Initiatives
Creo: Creating Annotations Using Model-Based Definition (Training-materials.ptcu.com)
Creo: Modifying and Publishing Annotations Using Model-Based Definition (Training-materials.ptcu.com)

02. Learn more about Top-down Design

When using top-down design, the high-level, overall design is completed first without designing the individual parts of the assemblies at the same time. Then, sub-assemblies or parts can be assigned to different groups or users to design with the overall assembly already defined.

Benefits of using top-down design:

A change in your overall design will have fewer downstream fixes or work to be done.
Design intent is completed first and stays in one place.

Visit the resources below to learn more about how to use Creo Parametric with top-down design.

Recommended Resources

Intro to Top-Down Design - Skeleton Models PTC University PTC login required
Creo: Using Assembly Skeletons for Top-Down Design PTC University
How to use skeleton models for top-down design in Creo Parametric (Training-materials.ptcu.com)
Suggested Technique for Using Skeleton Models to Achieve Top-Down Assembly Design

03. Learn more about Multi-body Design

Multi-body design is available in Creo Parametric 7.0 and higher.

Instead of a single part having one type of geometry with the same material and same properties, multi-body design allows for a single part to have multiple bodies with different characteristics in each body.

Benefits of using multi-body design:

Different geometry can be embedded in a single part, giving part design more flexibility.
Different bodies can be assigned with different material definitions.
Interdependencies between parts, especially in assemblies with a low number of components, without having to use skeletons and data-sharing features.

Visit the resources below to learn more about how to use Creo Parametric with multi-body design.

Recommended Resources

Creo: Multibody Design (Training-materials.ptcu.com)
Multibody Design for Beginners
Using Bodies as Design Tools in CAD

Plan and Measure Key Performance Indicators

Plan how you will measure success. To prove the value of adopting Creo Parametric, create a plan to measure key performance indicators (KPI): determine your goals, define your plan, and establish your metrics and a clear baseline.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Determine Goals and Metrics

Define Your Measurement Plan

Establish Baseline Metrics

01. Determine Goals and Metrics

Your goals and metrics will vary, depending on the size of your organization. With clear goals and metrics, you can:

Get support from leadership
Persuade other teams to buy in and adopt Creo Parametric
Get budget and resources
Expand your project in the future
Keep your project on track
Gain momentum

Depending on your industry, there are a variety of goals to consider. Common goals include:

Improve product quality
Increase product reliability
Optimized design
Faster time to market
Decrease product cost
Decrease product rework costs
Decrease quantity of prototypes

Do not forget to also document soft metrics such as customer satisfaction and employee confidence.

After identifying your goals, determine which metrics or KPIs you will use to measure success.

02. Define Your Measurement Plan

After you identify the goal and metrics, your organization will track, document, and share the measurement plan. Include in your measurement plan:

Short-term and long-term project goals
Key metrics
How you will measure key metrics
Baseline metrics
The timeline for your measurement plan
Who will gather and record the metrics
When to share progress and outcomes with stakeholders

03. Establish Baseline Metrics

Before you start using Creo Parametric, document your organization's "as-is" state. If you do not establish baseline metrics, it will not be easy to measure whether using Creo Parametric had a meaningful effect on your organization.

For example, if you are trying to reduce design time on a specific product, quantify how long it takes to design using your current method. Then, consider the time it takes to design and optimize the product and the time required by the end user. Then, once Creo Parametric has been deployed, track specific parts or assemblies through their lifecycle to create the "to be" measurement. Once you have both numbers, you can compare them to calculate change.

Establishing your baseline metrics will help prove the value of your project. Create a spreadsheet or a similar document to record your baseline metrics and track any updated metrics throughout the project timeline.

Plan CAD Data Migration

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Set Realistic Expectations

Evaluate Data Needs

Choose a Migration Method

Plan When to Retire the Current CAD System

Verify Product Lifecycle Management System

01. Set Realistic Expectations

Recommended Resources

Working with Imported CAD Data Using the Creo Flexible Modeling Extension
How to access "Flexible Modeling" tab in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required

02. Evaluate Data Needs

Prioritize what data your organization needs to migrate and avoid migrating data that will not change in the future.

For each of your products, consider:

Does your industry or business require a record of all retired products?
How complex is the CAD data?
How long are your product development cycles?
- For example, do your projects last months, quarters, or years?
What stage of the design or product lifecycle are they in?

If early in the design or product stage, migrate early would be beneficial to use Creo Parametric to build a more robust design.
If late in the design or product stage, it may be easier to finish the design in the CAD software.

Will there be minimal or dramatic changes to product designs in the future?
Are there products that are retired or will have no changes made in the future?

03. Choose a Migration Method

Consider how you will migrate the CAD data you prioritized in the previous step. There are three main methods to migrate your data to Creo Parametric:

Remodel All Parts and Assemblies

Start from the beginning and remodel all your parts and assemblies in Creo Parametric.

Advantages
- Creo Parametric will model your parts and assemblies better than your current CAD software
- Works well if your projects are small, so the re-master cost is minimal
- Re-modeling can be viewed as a training opportunity
Disadvantages
- Large and complex models take time to remodel
- May use resources to convert designs that will not change in the future
- Expensive
- Delays the deployment process

Conduct a Feature-by-feature Translation

Use a third-party software or service partner to determine how to model parts and assemblies by comparing your current CAD software features with Creo Parametric features.

Advantages
- Reasonably good feature-based models at a lower cost than re-mastering
- Could be used for products that are medium or larger in size
Disadvantages
- Feature translation is not a perfect process
- Will not get feature-based translation for cabling, piping, or interactive surface design
- May use resources to convert designs that will not change in the future
- Expensive
- Delays the deployment process

Open Files in Creo Parametric and Modify as Needed

Open non-PTC data in Creo Parametric and view it with our Unite technology. You can easily re-use and incorporate current CAD data with Unite.

Advantages
- Convert data as needed, when needed
- Can use Creo Parametric’s multi-CAD tools
- Import a single part of an assembly and make a change without importing the entire assembly
- Easily re-use current 2D and 3D data with minimal product data management effort
- Increase engineering productivity and IT efficiency
- Enable a “design anywhere, build anywhere” strategy

Recommended Resources

Unite Technology Data Sheet
What is the difference between Open and Import in Creo Parametric when retrieving 3rd Party CAD Models in session eSupport PTC login required
Unite Technology - PTC Creo Showcase (Youtube.com)
About the Creo Unite Technology Help Center

04. Plan When to Retire the Current CAD System

Consider these questions and their impact on your business as you plan when to retire your current CAD system:

Will you choose a specific date for your end users to only use Creo Parametric to complete their work?
If you keep your current CAD software, how will you determine what type of work will be done in it versus in Creo Parametric?
Will current products be finished and left in the current CAD software?
Will new products only start in Creo Parametric?

05. Verify Product Lifecycle Management System

Many customers use a product lifecycle management (PLM) or enterprise data management software to manage their CAD data.

Consider how your organization maintains CAD data today and how that may change with Creo Parametric:

Is your current data management strategy compatible with Creo Parametric?
Will you need to update your data management strategy?
Would you want to upgrade your PLM system and use PTC’s PLM solution, Windchill?

Plan Deployment

Plan on how Creo Parametric will be deployed to your organization from a technical standpoint. Decide on the scope of who will use it first, and then create an implementation plan.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Determine Product or Project Scope

Create Implementation Plan

Plan How to Retire Current CAD System

Plan User Acceptance Testing

01. Determine Product or Project Scope

Depending on the size of your organization, all end users may not adopt Creo Parametric at the same time. To determine which sites, teams, or products will start using Creo Parametric first, you can use similar criteria to how you planned what CAD data to migrate:

How long are your product development cycles?
- For example, do your projects last months, quarters, or years?
In what stage of the design or product lifecycle are you?
- If early in the design or product stage, you could assign these products or teams to adopt Creo Parametric to build a robust design.
- If late in the design or product stage, you could finish the product in the current CAD software before having those teams adopt Creo Parametric.
Will there be minimal or dramatic changes to product designs in the future?

02. Create Implementation Plan

Once you have determined who will adopt Creo Parametric first, plan out how Creo Parametric will be set up across your organization.

Install Any Additional Hardware or Software

If you purchased additional hardware or software to meet technical requirements, set up those items before installing Creo Parametric.

If there is a delay in buying, receiving, or setting up the hardware or software, delay when those affected teams will adopt Creo Parametric.

Plan Your Software Installation

Plan how Creo Parametric will be downloaded and installed across your organization. Your plan may be more or less complex depending on the size of your organization and the amount of end users who will be adopting Creo Parametric.

Consider these questions as you make your installation plan:

Who will download the software installer?

Will the same person or group install Creo Parametric throughout the organization, or will it be different for different sites or groups?
Will you use a silent installation or will someone individually install Creo Parametric on users’ computers?

Who will download and manage the license files?

Plan Integration Testing with Other Systems

Make a list of all software that connects to your current CAD software and which groups use them.

PTC forms relationships with our partners to provide our customers with software and hardware compatibility. Visit our Platform Support page to search by product name or by partner name to check if your integrated software is compatible with your Creo Parametric version.

Once you identify your integrated software and user groups, select a representative from each group to test those software connections once Creo Parametric is installed. If multiple departments are affected, include representatives from each department.

Create a test script to help your team get the most out of testing. Your test scripts should include:

Clear, concise, and brief steps the tester will execute
- Make your actions brief to make sure testers don’t skip steps.
- Having a well-written test script ensures that testers stay focused.
Expected result(s) in each step
- Do not assume that testers will know the expected result on their own.
- Without the expected outcomes, testers may be confused and report false issues.
- You will get more meaningful results and save time if the testers know the expected outcomes in advance.

Recommended Resources

Platform Support eSupport
Creo Hardware Platform Support Policy eSupport

03. Plan How to Retire Current CAD System

After you have determined when to retire your current CAD system, plan the steps you will take to retire it. Your plan will vary depending on your organization’s size and the speed that your end users will adopt Creo Parametric.

Consider these questions and their impact to your business as you plan how to retire your current CAD system:

Who will uninstall your current CAD system from end users’ computers?
- Will individual end users uninstall your current CAD system or will the system administrator or IT do a silent uninstallation?
What steps need to happen and when?
If your current CAD system is subscription-based, who will contact the CAD company to reduce or cancel your subscriptions?

04. Plan User Acceptance Testing

User acceptance testing (UAT) verifies whether Creo Parametric meets user requirements. UAT can also be another opportunity to build excitement by providing an opportunity for some users to try Creo Parametric before it goes live. The testers can act as ambassadors and help get other end users excited for adopting Creo Parametric.

UAT should answer questions like:

Can users use Creo Parametric and complete the test cases easily?
Is there any data or functionality missing?
Does Creo Parametric function correctly?
Does data flow from all integrated systems?

Document what to test in UAT and who is involved at each step. Be as thorough as possible. No task is too small to include. Make one overall testing plan that includes:

Data sources and data flow
Design specification/technical design
Acceptance criteria
Test procedures
Test cases
Environments and who has access to which ones
Security requirements
Results of quality assurance tests

Include within your testing plan the cadence in which testers will report errors, including how or where to report errors. Reporting errors quickly will save time.

Plan Communications

A crucial step in introducing change to your organization is informing and educating users about Creo Parametric in advance. Plan how to communicate with your organization about Creo Parametric and take steps to engage contributors, collect feedback, and ease the transition.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Create Communications

Build Excitement and Address Concerns

Establish a Mechanism for Listening to Concerns

01. Create Communications

People are more open to change when they know about what is happening in advance. Plan how you will communicate with the appropriate audiences to help manage change.

The end users are your most important audience. They need to know that change is coming, why it is important, how Creo Parametric will make their work easier, and how they will learn to use it.

Use these questions to guide your communications plan:

Who are your audiences?
What does each audience care about the most?
What do they need to know to be successful?
When do they need to know it?
What is your schedule for communicating with your audience?
What are the existing or best channels to communicate through?
Who should deliver the message(s) for it to be effective?
How often should you communicate with each audience?
When will you communicate information to different groups?
How can your audiences communicate their concerns with you?

Start these plans as soon as possible with the appropriate audiences. Announcing changes early and often helps generate support throughout the organization and will make the transition easier.

02. Build Excitement and Address Concerns

Change can be uncomfortable—but it is inevitable for businesses to stay competitive. Implementing new technology like Creo Parametric is no different. However, there are ways to smooth the transition and build excitement for Creo Parametric.

Consider how you will facilitate changes that Creo Parametric will bring. Your workforce will need to adopt a new mindset, develop new skills, and learn new technology and processes. Prevent inaccurate assumptions by clearly communicating the value this new technology will bring to your organization.

Engage Leadership

Engage leadership and ask them to help you spread the news. You need buy-in from all levels of the organization, especially from end users. Consider sharing updates with executive leaders, managers, trainees, and other end users as appropriate.

Involve end users’ direct managers, if possible. If end users know their managers are excited about the change, they will be too.

Whenever you communicate about adopting Creo Parametric, clearly articulate why you are adopting Creo Parametric. Know how to explain:

Why your organization is making this change (and why it is beneficial to end users)
How it will affect the business
Your end goal and timeline

Be transparent about new technology because end users may fear the new change could eliminate their jobs or create more work for them without explanation. Be sensitive to possible fears.

Introduce Creo Parametric to Employees

One way to introduce Creo Parametric to employees is to show them it has amazing possibilities. Then, early in the project, recruit employees to help test it. By involving end users early and listening to their ideas, you encourage them to advocate for the project on your behalf.

Communicate in Multiple Ways

Use multiple methods of communication to reach your audiences. Consider communicating with your audiences with:

Email
Newsletters
Posters, banners, flyers
All-access website
Podcasts
Videos
Surveys
Demonstrations

Emails alone are not enough when communicating an upcoming change. Make sure your plan contains various communication methods to maximize the reach of the message. The more your audiences see information about Creo Parametric, the more open they will be to adopting it.

03. Establish a Mechanism for Listening to Concerns

While it is important to communicate, it is also imperative to listen. Listening to your employees’ concerns should be a top concern. If stakeholder communication is only coming from one direction, you risk overlooking valuable feedback, inventive ideas, or important concerns from people in your organization.

Give your employees different methods to express their concerns or ideas to allow people to choose what works best for them. To help facilitate and elicit feedback, use one or more of the following methods:

An open forum or team website: Provide a forum where stakeholders can ask questions and make comments. Project leaders can help answer common questions across the organization.
Group email: Some employees may be hesitant to post on a public forum. To engage them, consider creating a dedicated project email inbox.
Anonymous survey: Send anonymous surveys throughout the process to gather honest feedback without the fear of repercussions.

Whichever method you choose, be sure frontline workers, managers, new trainees, project participants, and other stakeholders know how to express concerns, share ideas, and ask questions.

Plan Adoption and Training Activities

Plan how your organization will introduce Creo Parametric to the employees who will use it. A thorough rollout plan helps you navigate change and encourage users to adopt this new technology.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Create a Rollout Plan

Create Your Organizational Change Management Plan

Plan Role-based Training

Plan How to Deliver the Training

Update Documentation

Create Administration Documentation

Consider Localization and Translation

01. Create a Rollout Plan

Plan how to support employees as they learn about Creo and how to use it. Typically, a rollout plan outlines:

Who, specifically, will use Creo Parametric
What their roles are
How you will communicate with them as they get started and beyond
When and how they should receive training
Who will conduct training
How they will get support

This plan will communicate many of the decisions you made through execution planning. Document your rollout plan and share it accordingly.

02. Create Your Organizational Change Management Plan

Your organizational change manager (who you identified in Assemble Your Team) will help create your organizational change management (OCM) plan. An OCM plan’s main goal is to help prepare your employees for change. The key to a successful software deployment is a seamless transition for your end users.

An OCM plan:

Defines a compelling vision and clear objectives
Ensures strong leadership and significant sponsorship
Builds and maintains ownership and accountability
Aligns processes, organization, and culture
Involves employees
Provides adequate enablement, training, and support
Ensures stakeholder-specific communication
Measures and monitor benefits realization continuously

Document your OCM plan and share it accordingly.

Start these activities as soon as possible with the appropriate audiences. Announcing changes early and often helps generate support throughout the organization and will make the transition easier.

03. Plan Role-based Training

Training is another opportunity to build excitement for Creo Parametric, providing your employees with an opportunity to try the system before you retire the current CAD system.

Role-based training focuses training on the skills the end users need to perform their job. Role-based training plans are the best way to minimize the amount of time your users are in training and maximize their time doing their job. In addition, your organization will save resources by focusing the training on what each role needs to know to do their job.

First, identify what each role does in your current CAD system and list everything each role needs to do in Creo Parametric. Next, include what you learned when you compared your current design process to how Creo Parametric will help improve it. Then, build a training plan for each role and focus on what they need to know to perform their job duties. Quick and thorough training will give your users confidence to use Creo Parametric.

End user training should cover:

What will be different in Creo Parametric compared to your current CAD software
How to use Creo Parametric
How to get technical support
How to troubleshoot and report errors
How to access user documentation

Consider how you will deliver training for different learning styles. You could:

Host a workshop led by an expert
Create “how-to” videos, podcasts, or tutorials
Supply a job aid or cheat sheet
Create an instructional guide

04. Plan How to Deliver the Training

Determine who will deliver the training, where they will deliver the training, and when they will deliver the training. Training delivery services are offered by PTC (LEARN Online) and PTC’s partners. These training services are a great option for organizations that cannot dedicate subject matter experts (SMEs) to training events.

If you have SMEs available, consider using a train-the-trainer approach. Remember that your SMEs need time to create the training content. Plan enough time for the SMEs to create training content, lead training, and mentor the trainers.

A hybrid approach is also an option. Third-party, off-the-shelf training can be used for general training, and the SME-created content can address specific business concerns and is used in additional training workshops.

When planning how to deliver the training, review the locations and geographies where your end users are located. Create a delivery schedule to coordinate training across locations. If your end users work across different locations and geographies, determine how to coordinate training across sites.

If paid instructor-led training is not possible for you, the PTC Learning Connector offers a variety of free tutorials.

Review the PTC University Creo Training Catalog to learn more about courses PTC offers for Creo Parametric training.

Recommended Resources

05. Update Documentation

Create instructions that guide end users in using Creo Parametric successfully. User documentation should include:

How to perform tasks from the current CAD software in Creo Parametric
How to use new functionality
How to navigate Creo Parametric
How to get help from your support team
How to troubleshoot and report errors

Access to updated documentation will help ease the transition for end users.

06. Create Administration Documentation

To help with managing users and maintaining Creo Parametric, there should be administration documentation that includes:

How to use Creo Parametric to manage licenses
Your user groups, such as administrators, developers, and end users
How to ensure each user has the correct license(s)
Procedures for modifying license access for employees who change jobs
How to get help from your organization’s IT team

Ensure your Creo Parametric administrator knows how to access the documentation.

Update the documentation when changes are made to Creo Parametric. Documentation is something many customers forget to do or fail to do well. However, documentation is effective in providing answers to important questions. Update your documentation each step of the way to help your organization answer these questions.

07. Consider Localization and Translation

When planning your adoption plan, consider where your teams are located and which languages they speak. Consider the train the trainer effort and how localization could impact this. You will need to ensure you have trainers in each geography ready to present in whatever the preferred language may be.

Plan Creo Parametric Support Strategy

Plan what support will be available for your end users and how to transition between short-term and long-term support. For the first few weeks after Creo Parametric is deployed, the short-term support team will provide go-live support for end users. The goal of go-live support is to have the short-term support team quickly address any issues that come up when end users begin to use Creo Parametric normally. Your internal support team will provide long-term support after go-live support is complete.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Plan Short-term Support Strategy

Plan Transition to Long-term Support

Plan Long-term Support Strategy

Document Your Support Strategy

01. Plan Short-term Support Strategy

For the first few weeks after Creo Parametric is deployed, the short-term support team will provide go-live support for end users. Short-term support should be as easy as possible for end users. When end users can access quick support for their Creo Parametric concerns, they will grow more confident in the new tool.

Consider the following options to add to your short-term support strategy:

Reserve a room at your organization or provide a link to a virtual meeting room where end users can find immediate support in the short term.
- Determine which project team members should be available in these rooms (for example, a few high-level decision makers, IT representatives, Creo Parametric subject matter experts [SME], etc.)
- Communicate widely with your end user base how and where to find quick support
Have a dedicated phone number or email address for end users to find immediate help.
Consider having a SME roam around a department or checking in with end users to ask if they have any issues. The SME could offer immediate help.
Offer additional training if the support rooms find end users are reporting a similar issue frequently.

02. Plan Transition to Long-term Support

Plan how to transition to your long-term support strategy. Your timeline will depend on the size of your organization and the number of end user issues reported. The accuracy of your timeline is less important than the support your end users need. Extend short-term support if your end users continue to need support.

Create criteria for when to transition to long-term support. For example:

When fewer than a specific number of end users visit the support rooms for help each day.
When the roaming SME finds no one is asking for support.

03. Plan Long-term Support Strategy

An essential part of your long-term support strategy will rely on having in-house support available for end users. PTC recommends establishing a “help desk” within your IT department. Help desk personnel could complete Creo Parametric training to prepare to answer basic questions, troubleshoot problems, and manage issues in-house. With the proper documentation and training, your support team can resolve issues quickly.

To support your technical support team training, we recommend all members:

Participate in PTC University’s Creo Training Catalog classes
Gain access and learn how to use PTC's eSupport Portal & Knowledge Base
Create accounts for admins on the PTC Community
Bookmark PTC's Technical Support Case Logger
Review all the training materials provided to end users

In cases when the help desk is unable to resolve the issue, PTC offers multiple ways to search for support: the PTC Knowledge Base, the PTC Community, and My PTC Support. Often, these support tools will help you resolve your issue. Our next section Set Up Your Account explains these support tools in more detail.

If you still cannot find what you need, log a case with PTC technical support. When opening a case, include:

Which Creo Parametric version you have
Detailed description of the issue
Steps to reproduce the issue
Any related data files or screenshots, if needed
Text of error messages or warnings you have received

Once received, a member of the technical support team will contact you.

Recommended Resources

PTC Community PTC Communities
PTCU's Creo Training Catalog PTC University
Create Your PTC eSupport Account eSupport
Open a Support Case eSupport
Managing your Technical Support Cases eSupport
Getting Started with PTC Knowledge Base eSupport

04. Document Your Support Strategy

Once you have determined how your organization will provide Creo Parametric support, document this plan.

Remember to include:

Roles and responsibilities
- Who will deliver support? The duties may span different functional areas. Determine how the teams will triage issues among the various experts at different functional areas.
Escalation
- How will your support team escalate issues that are outside their domain of expertise? How will they handle complex problems that require additional expertise?

Set Up Your Account

Set up the account you will need to get support from PTC and learn about the ways that PTC offers support to customers.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Set Up Your Account

Know How to Get Support

Connect With Your Customer Success Manager

01. Set Up Your Account

You will need a PTC Support Account to download software and access technical support.

To create your account, you need one of these numbers:

Your Service Contract Number
Your Sales Order Number
Your Site Number

These numbers will be in an email that PTC sends you after your purchase is complete.

If you cannot find this information, contact PTC technical support or your sales representative.

Recommended Resources

Create your PTC Account eSupport
Get Help Logging In eSupport

02. Know How to Get Support

Customers often contact PTC technical support first, but PTC offers multiple ways to get help: the PTC Knowledge Base, the PTC Community, and My PTC Support, in addition to PTC Technical Support.

PTC Knowledge Base

Search the PTC Knowledge Base for information about PTC products and solutions. The Knowledge Base includes:

Technical articles
Product documentations
Community threads
Training tutorials
Digital services (how to interact with PTC’s services online)
Software problem reports (or “bugs”)

Customers can sign up for access to the Knowledge Base with a valid email address.

Visit Getting Started with PTC Knowledge Base to learn more about using the Knowledge Base.

The PTC Community

Browse information about using Creo Parametric, follow others’ topics, or post a new topic. A knowledgeable community member will respond and help.

Anyone can explore the Community. But if you would like to post a topic or respond to others, you must create a PTC basic account. Select the "Basic" tab on the "Create New PTC eSupport Account" page. This account is separate from your Creo Parametric account.

My PTC Assistant

My PTC Assistant is an interactive support website that filters information by topic. Click on a topic that interests you and more options related to that subject will appear. You will find resources for:

Academic programs
Cloud system
Consulting
Contracts & orders: issue with
Contracts and orders request
Customer information
Customer training
Field academy
General feedback
Invoices: issues with
Invoices request
License management
Marketing
Partner network agreement
PTC website and user accounts
Sales inquiry
Success management
Technical support

Visit My PTC Support to get started.

PTC Technical Support

Creo Parametric administrators can open support cases with PTC eSupport. To open a case, you must have a PTC customer account. To create a PTC customer account, you will need:

Your PTC Customer Number
Your PTC Service Contract Number

If you do not know your PTC customer number or service contract number, contact your sales representative or customer success manager.

When opening a case, include:

Which Creo Parametric version you have
Detailed description of the issue
Steps to reproduce the issue
Any related data files or screenshots, if needed
Text of error messages or warnings you’ve received

Recommended Resources

Getting Started with PTC Knowledge Base eSupport
Managing your Technical Support Cases eSupport
My PTC Assistant eSupport PTC login required
Create Your New PTC eSupport Account eSupport
Access the PTC CAD Community PTC Communities
Get Help Logging In eSupport
PTC's Creo YouTube Channel (Youtube.com)

03. Connect With Your Customer Success Manager

If your organization purchased a success plan from PTC, you have a customer success manager. Our customer success managers are committed to help you realize value from Creo Parametric. Schedule a time to connect as soon as possible and ask if they have any resources to help support you.

Download and Install Software

To access the materials within this guide, download the Creo Parametric software, or get technical support, you need a PTC account to enter the eSupport Portal. After your eSupport account is created, download and install the Creo Parametric software installer.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Download and Install Creo Parametric

Request Licenses

01. Download and Install Creo Parametric

Remember to evaluate if your hardware and software are compatible with Creo Parametric, and acquire any additional resources before you install Creo Parametric.

Access the Creo Parametric software installer by logging in to PTC eSupport. If you don’t have a PTC eSupport account, create one now.

To install Creo Parametric, download the software installer from our eSupport Portal at the PTC Software Download webpage.

PTC created an interactive installation guide for Creo Parametric. To use the guide, select which situation describes your needs best and information will be filtered for you. You can find more detailed installation steps at the Creo Installation Central Resource Page.

Consider Silent Installations

For larger customers, we offer the option to perform a silent installation of Creo Parametric across your organization. A silent installation requires little to no user interaction and is a convenient way to streamline the installation process.

Visit the Creo Installation Central Resource page for more instructions about silent installations.

Recommended Resources

Create New PTC eSupport Account eSupport
Get Help Logging In eSupport
Creo Installation Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required

02. Request Licenses

You cannot use Creo Parametric without a license. You can install the software without a license, and later provide the license information by re-running the PTC Installation Assistant.

You can request licenses with:

The PTC Installation Assistant
PTC License Management Web tools

When you request your licenses from PTC, you will need your:

Sales Order Number
Host ID/MAC Address

Your sales representative can help you determine which type of licenses your organization needs.

Learn more about how to set up licenses on the next page.

Recommended Resources

How to get MAC address/Host ID/CPU ID eSupport PTC login required
Contact Licensing Management Department
PTC License Management Web tools PTC login required
Customer Support Guide: Licensing eSupport
Creo Installation Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required

Set Up Licenses

Every Creo Parametric user needs a license to use the software. It does not matter if you request a license first and then download and install the software, or if you download and install first and then request licenses. Either way, a license is required to use Creo Parametric. Learn more below about how to set up licenses for your end user base.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Understand License Types

Get License Files

Manage Licenses

Borrow, Reserve, or Exclude Licenses for Users

01. Understand License Types

There are two main types of Creo Parametric licenses:

Locked (or node-locked) license: Allows one end user to use Creo Parametric on one computer for which the license was specifically created.
Floating license: Allows multiple end users in an organization to access a license on a license server to use Creo Parametric until the number of pre-determined licenses has been met.
- Requires a license management server to distribute the licenses to end users’ computers

Your sales representative can help you determine which type of licenses your organization needs. Visit the license page on the Creo Installation Central Resource Page to learn more about Creo Parametric licenses.

Recommended Resources

Use of appropriate licenses eSupport PTC login required
[Knowledge Hub] Creo Parametric License, Install and Reconfigure Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required

02. Get License Files

A license is required to use Creo Parametric. It does not matter if you request a license first and then download and install the software, or if you download and install first and then request a license.

You can retrieve your license file(s) from:

PTC License Management Web tools, where you can request a license pack via email.
Call or email the PTC License Management team

When you request licenses from PTC, you will need your:

Sales Order Number
Host ID/MAC Address

Note: When you update to a newer Creo Parametric release in the future, you can keep your same license(s).

If you need help with licenses, contact the License Management Department.

Recommended Resources

Download Creo License file eSupport PTC login required
How to get MAC address/Host ID/CPU ID eSupport PTC login required
PTC License Management
Licensing Customer Support Guide
Contact Licensing Management Department eSupport

03. Manage Licenses

Determine how to manage available licenses at your organization. If your organization has floating licenses, it is especially important to track who, when, and where a user checks in or checks out a license for usage.

Consider making an individual or team the Creo Parametric license coordinator. That person or group can be responsible for all license matters in the organization. Communicate who that will be to your end user community so they know who to contact for licensing support.

The Creo Parametric license coordinator can manage licenses with the PTC Licensing tool. They can also check your license entitlements with our Request a License Report.

Install a License Manager for Floating Licenses

If you have locked licenses, you do not need a license manager.

If you have floating licenses, we recommend FlexNet Publisher as our chosen provider for license management. The license manager will apply new license files on FlexNet Admin server.

You can find the download for FlexNet publisher under Additional Downloadable Software Updates in the Order or Download Software Updates webpage.

The Creo Installation Central Resource offers step-by-step instructions to install license servers. Visit the Install LMADMIN Web Interface page listed in recommended resources to learn how to install the PTC License Server.

You need to be signed into eSupport to access this page
This page includes written instructions and a video tutorial to guide you through the installation process

Find more details between the LMADMIN in the FlexNet Publisher’s License Administration Guide (see link below in recommended resources).

Recommended Resources

PTC License Management Web Tools Guide
How to manage licenses using the PTC Licensing Tool eSupport PTC login required
Request a License Report
Guided Licensing and Installation Troubleshooter: FlexLM eSupport PTC login required
Guided Licensing and Installation Troubleshooter: FlexLM eSupport PTC login required
Install LMADMIN Web Interface eSupport PTC login required
Platform support and download page for FLEXnet Publisher standalone installer eSupport PTC login required
FLEXnet Publisher Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required
FlexNet Publisher's License Administration Guide Resource Center

04. Borrow, Reserve, or Exclude Licenses for Users

In Creo Parametric, you can borrow or reserve floating licenses for end users in advance. This can be helpful if you are first installing Creo Parametric for a specific number of end users, and know the end user base will grow in the future.

Visit Advance License Setting to learn more about:

How to borrow licenses for Creo Parametric
How to reserve licenses for specific users or groups
How to exclude a particular user from using some license feature in Creo Parametric

Recommended Resources

Advance License Setting eSupport PTC login required

Configure and Customize Creo Parametric

Creo Parametric configurations and customizations are designed to help you adjust Creo Parametric to your needs and make the most out of our technology.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Configure Creo Parametric

Customize Creo Parametric

01. Configure Creo Parametric

Change the look and feel of Creo Parametric and the way it runs by setting options in a configuration file. The config.pro file is a text file that stores all default settings for how Creo Parametric operates. Some of the settings you can choose are:

Tolerance display formats
Calculation accuracy
The number of digits used in sketcher dimensions

We regularly improve our configurations based on user needs and provide CSV files that document all config.pro options for our latest and earlier releases. Refer to the recommended resources for where to find documentation for all config.pro options for all Creo Parametric versions.

We recommend “Model Quality” as a standard configuration for all users. By default, Creo Parametric is set for optimum performance of speed. Depending on your needs, users may need to increase or decrease the model display quality. For example, in large assembly management, decrease display quality for smoother performance.

Recommended Resources

Documentation of all config.pro Configuration Options list for Pro/ENGINEER and Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
eSupport Portal's Reference Document Search Tool eSupport
How to Set Up Configuration Files Help Center
How to improve performance for large assembly by decreasing display quality in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
[Knowledge Hub] How to configure Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required

02. Customize Creo Parametric

You can code and adjust Creo Parametric based on your needs. Customizations are special builds made in C-language, Java – Language, JavaScript, and VB code.

If you customize Creo Parametric, you will need Creo Parametric Toolkit APIs and Creo Parametric Toolkit coding language applications. PTC does not support each unique customization build. Remember to document any customization that you add—this information is critical if you update Creo Parametric in the future.

Examples of customizations PTC Technical Support will support include:

We recommend consulting with PTC or a partner if your organization will implement customizations in Creo Parametric.

For details on Creo Parametric Toolkit Customizations, refer to our Customization Support Policy for Creo Parametric and our recommended resources below.

Recommended Resources

Customization Support Policy for Creo Parametric Guides
Creo Community Customizations Forum PTC Communities
Customization of the User Interface in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
Creo Parametric Object TOOLKIT C++ Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required
Creo Parametric Object TOOLKIT Java Free Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required
Creo Parametric Object TOOLKIT Java Licensed Version Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required
Creo Parametric VB API Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required

Define Your CAD Templates

Before deploying Creo Parametric to your organization, document and create the templates your organization needs in Creo Parametric. The Creo Parametric default templates can be used as is or can be customized. Make a list of the templates used in your current CAD software to plan your Creo Parametric templates.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Learn about Templates

Document Current Templates

Define Templates Needed in Creo Parametric

Set Up Config.pro File

01. Learn about Templates

Templates save time in every drawing and model. Templates contain information like datums, layers, saved views, and parameters that will be the same for every end user who accesses them. Having correctly set up templates create standardization and brand consistency across your organization, and templates guarantee that every end user has all the correct information to use.

02. Document Current Templates

Make a list of the templates (or “start parts”) your organization uses in your current CAD software. Include representatives from multiple departments or different products to have a variety of perspectives.

Examine and document what information is needed in each template (such as what parameters, attributes, layering, etc.).

03. Define Templates Needed in Creo Parametric

Take this opportunity to learn more about Creo Parametric templates and choose options that meet your team and industry standards.

At a minimum, we recommend having the following templates:

Solid part
Assembly templates
Drawing templates

You may have new functionality or abilities in Creo Parametric than what was available in your current CAD software, and you may need new templates. For example, if your organization starts creating 3D drawings, consider what templates you will need that you did not have in your current CAD software.

Take time in the beginning to get the templates right. It is better to take the time in the beginning than to add information to existing models afterward.

Recommended Resources

How to change the default template for parts, assemblies and drawings in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
How to create and set customize start part in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
How to create a user defined drawing template in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required

04. Set Up Config.pro File

The config.pro file is a text file that stores all default settings for how Creo Parametric operates. Some of the settings you can choose are:

Tolerance display formats
Calculation accuracy
The number of digits used in sketcher dimensions

Different groups or locations may need different configurations. Set up a config.pro file for each group that needs the same configurations.

Recommended Resources

Troubleshooting: How To Determine Which Specific Config.pro Option May Be Causing An Issue in Creo Parametric eSupport PTC login required
Setting config.pro Options Help Center

Test and Validate

Confirm that your final solution meets business and technical needs and is ready for rollout.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Plan and Execute Functional Testing

Plan and Execute UAT

Validate Test Results

01. Plan and Execute Functional Testing

Functional testing is a process that verifies that Creo Parametric is working as it was designed to work. Create a functional testing plan with your current system and data experts and other members of the team. A good testing approach involves the application programming interface, user interface, and system levels. Testing is costly, but the frequency and timing of tests can help you achieve better results. Automation can make this process more efficient.

Depending on your testing plan, testing could be done by developers, subject matter experts, or power users. Include within your testing plan the cadence in which testers will report errors, including how or where to report errors. Later in user acceptance testing (UAT), testers will further verify that Creo Parametric is set up correctly from a user standpoint.

Write Test Scripts for Functional Testing

Your team will get the most out of testing when they have a prepared test script to complete. Your test scripts should include:

Clear, concise, and brief steps the tester will execute
Expected result(s) in each step

Make your actions brief to make sure testers do not skip steps. Having a well-written test script helps testers stay focused.

Verify User Permissions

Create test user accounts and assign them to each one of your user groups. Use a copy of production to use in a QA environment. Then, log in as each of the test user groups.

Verify that the test user accounts can:

Log in as expected
Access the right functionality
Access the right data
Take actions in Creo Parametric as expected

Make any changes to the visibility and permissions of user groups as needed and update your documentation. You may need to make changes to user groups in Creo Parametric and/or other integrated systems, such as Windchill or other third-party PLM systems.

02. Plan and Execute UAT

Prepare your UAT plan to validate with users that Creo Parametric is set up correctly for their needs. Plan to complete these tests in a QA or staging environment that is as like your production environment as possible. Again, testing is costly. Automate the process where you can.

Consider these items as you plan UAT test scripts:

Verify user permissions and data: Ask users to log in to Creo Parametric and verify they have access to everything they need. This will make sure users have licenses and data configured correctly.
Verify users have the correct license: Use this opportunity to confirm that your licenses are distributed correctly. License distribution is one of the top user-reported errors when adopting Creo Parametric. Make sure all your end users have the licenses that they need.
Verify users can use Creo Parametric: Include common tasks that end users will perform as part of their regular work in Creo Parametric. Note where they encounter issues to get to the cause of the problem.

Write Test Scripts for UAT

Having a prepared test script will help your team get the most out of testing. Your test scripts should include:

Clear, concise, and brief steps the tester will execute
Expected result(s) in each step

Write real-world scenarios that users in your organization will experience when using Creo Parametric. Make your actions brief to prevent testers from missing steps. Having a well-written test script ensures that testers stay focused.

Include the expected result in each step of the test script. Without the expected outcomes, users may be confused and report false issues. Do not assume that testers will know the expected result on their own. You will get more meaningful results and save time if the testers know the expected outcomes in advance.

Remember to document changes as you write and record test results.

Document your test scripts and include them as part of your overall testing plan.

Train Power Users for UAT

For UAT, train users who:

Are familiar with your CAD data and whose insights will be valuable during UAT
Are project team members, like the project manager, project sponsor, stakeholders, and admins
Will act as Creo Parametric ambassadors within their department or organization

Refer to your training plan. By now, you should have training materials to provide your end users with or training methods to offer, such as:

An expert-led workshop
“How-to” videos or tutorials
A job aid or cheat sheet
An instructional guide

Execute UAT Plan

Test the application in a QA environment with your power users to see if Creo Parametric is ready for the end user community. UAT should answer questions like:

Can users navigate and use Creo Parametric as expected?
Is the new functionality confusing?
Did Creo Parametric function correctly during the test?

You may get insights during testing and choose to act on them later. If Creo Parametric does not meet all user needs, decide whether to pause deployment or to launch as-is.

03. Validate Test Results

Document and review your findings from UAT. Compare the test results to the user needs you documented earlier.

Discuss whether Creo Parametric needs further configuring or if it is ready to go live as-is. You may identify potential improvements during UAT and choose to act on them after deployment. Also determine if your test results change when or for whom Creo Parametric will first go live.

Prepare Your Users

Make sure the people who will use and support Creo Parametric are ready to go live. Communicate any updates to end users and distribute updated documentation.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Train Admins and Support Teams

Train End Users

Distribute Documentation

Localize Creo Parametric for End Users

01. Train Admins and Support Teams

End users need to know where to go for technical support to reduce future downtime and achieve your project goals. Your admin and support teams should be the first people who are contacted for any bugs or errors the end users encounter.

Training your support team should involve:

Training around Creo Parametric’s user interface and functionality
Implementation of configurations and company customizations
Experience submitting and getting additional support from PTC Technical Support when needed
Creating and managing documentation
Managing user licenses
Localizing and setting up Creo Parametric

To support your admin and support team training, we recommend all members:

Gain access and learn how to use PTC's eSupport Portal & Knowledge Base
Create accounts for admins on the PTC Community
Bookmark Customer Support Guide
Use our Creo Admin Troubleshooter from Technical Support
Review all the training materials provided under Train End Users below

Recommended Resources

Creo Capabilities
PTC Customer Support Guide
Managing your Technical Support Cases
Creo Parametric Help Centers Help Center
Creo Training Catalog (Training-materials.ptcu.com)

02. Train End Users

Ensure that everyone who will use Creo Parametric has the knowledge they need to get started. End users include anyone at your organization who will use Creo Parametric to do their jobs. Be clear when announcing when training is available so end users know how to access it.

Your end users need to know:

How Creo Parametric changes their job
How to use Creo Parametric
How it is different from your current CAD software
How to get support or training
Where to find documentation
How to troubleshoot and report errors

Offer training at various times to maximize the number of end users that attend training. Providing options will improve attendance. In addition, tracking your end users' attendance at training sessions can effectively ensure adoption is met.

As you conduct training, monitor whether your approach is practical. For example, you may discover end users need more or less guidance, or different formats (computer-based training, written documentation, etc.) for training.

Ideally, your organization has been communicating with end users about adopting Creo Parametric and how it will improve their jobs. End users may be more open to training if they understand why these changes are being made. The more training they receive, the fewer problems they will report when Creo Parametric is live, and the more comfortable they will be with Creo Parametric.

When communicating updates with end users, always include your training documentation, go-live dates, and future follow-up for feedback details.

If more extensive product training is required for your engineers, review sample curriculum and contact PTC University for our Creo Parametric Product Service Trainings.

Recommended Resources

Creo Parametric Help Centers Help Center
Creo Learning Connector PTC University
Creo Parametric PTC Community PTC Communities

03. Distribute Documentation

Distribute documentation to end users and technical support. Upload the documentation to a central training resources location if your organization has one (for example, a training library).

This documentation is critical for supporting Creo Parametric on an ongoing basis and will explain how to use Creo Parametric to perform their job duties.

04. Localize Creo Parametric for End Users

PTC supports Creo Parametric engineers no matter where in the world they are. Creo Parametric and our help centers are available in multiple languages.

You can install and start Creo Parametric in a specific language. You can localize the language you want in the Creo Parametric Help Center. This feature is controlled by 'PRO_LANG' and needs to be adjusted at start-up. We offer Help Centers in the following languages:

French
Chinese
German
Russian
Japanese
Korean
Spanish
Italian

As you deploy Creo Parametric across your organization, consider which languages to apply to the software across different sites.

Recommended Resources

How to install and start Creo Parametric with a specific language eSupport PTC login required
How to change the language in Creo Parametric Help Center eSupport PTC login required

Go Live

Execute your CAD data migration plan. The license coordinator will verify that all licenses are distributed. Ensure end-users know where to find templates. These items will be completed for all end users or specific groups, depending on whether your organization is carrying out a tiered approach or moving everyone to Creo Parametric at once.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Migrate CAD Data

Verify PLM Connection

Verify Licenses

Retire CAD System

Verify Templates

Communicate with End Users

01. Migrate CAD Data

Communicate with your end user group(s) to stop making changes to the CAD data that will migrate and then make a backup copy. Then, refer to your CAD data migration plan and begin to migrate your CAD data.

Remember, Creo Parametric offers Unite technology, a tool that makes it easy to view non-Creo Parametric data without converting the full assembly. Creo Parametric also allows you to save files in a non-Creo Parametric format if needed. Unite helps to reduce the amount of time and effort spent on data migration.

Recommended Resources

Creo's Unite Technology

02. Verify PLM Connection

If you use a PLM solution to manage your data, confirm that the integration was successful. Ideally, you tested this piece as you tested and validated Creo Parametric in a test environment. Before your end users start to use Creo Parametric, make sure data is accessible from your PLM solution.

Recommended Resources

Minimum Windchill license profile requirements for CAD integration with Windchill eSupport

03. Verify Licenses

Users cannot use Creo Parametric without a license. Prevent downtime by verifying that your end users have access to the licenses they need to get started with Creo Parametric. If you have a person or team responsible for managing licenses, tell end users how to contact them if they have any questions.

If you have floating licenses and encounter issues with your license setup, visit our Guided Licensing & Installation Troubleshooter page. The page has solutions for the most common issues encountered during the installation or launch of Flexnet License Management.

Recommended Resources

Guided Licensing & Installation Troubleshooter for PTC Products based on FlexLM eSupport PTC login required
How to manage licenses using the PTC Licensing Tool eSupport PTC login required
[Knowledge Hub] Creo Parametric License, Install and Reconfigure Central Resource Page eSupport PTC login required
[Knowledge Hub] PTC License Server : FLEXnet Publisher Central Resource Page PTC login required

04. Retire CAD System

Communicate with your end users whether your plan is to have fewer end users using the CAD software or to stop using it completely.

If your plan is to adopt Creo Parametric in phases, communicate with each user group which products will be maintained in Creo Parametric or in the former CAD software.

If your plan is to immediately adopt Creo Parametric, begin to retire your former CAD software and make sure all end users will use Creo Parametric.

05. Verify Templates

Templates save time in every drawing and model. They contain information like datums, layers, saved views, and parameters that will be the same for every user who accesses them. Every time you start with a template, you build brand consistency into your work.

Make sure that your templates are set up correctly and that Creo Parametric is set up to access the correct templates. Verify this step before end users start to use Creo Parametric. Prevent downtime by communicating to end users where they can find the templates.

06. Communicate with End Users

The person or group responsible for communicating with end users should announce that Creo Parametric is ready to use. Refer to your communication plan and follow up on any remaining communication and training items.

Make sure your end users are ready to Creo Parametric. They will need to know:

How to use Creo Parametric
How to get support or training
Where to find documentation

Your plan may have a phased approach, and your entire end user community may not be adapting Creo Parametric immediately. Regardless, communicate with each group of affected end users to let them know what to expect.

Provide Support

Be prepared for the transition from go-live support to long-term support. For the first few weeks after Creo Parametric is deployed, the short-term support team will provide support for end users. Then transition into your long-term support strategy.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Provide Go-live Support

Prepare to Transition to Long-term Support Strategy

Transition to Long-term Support

01. Provide Go-live Support

Refer to the support strategy you created earlier and follow up on any remaining items.

Make sure that end users know:

Where to find documentation or other resources
How to find support or training
How to report issues

If end users are reporting similar types of issues, conduct additional training sessions to provide support to a larger audience.

Enable Power Users

Power users have an important role in your support strategy. They are ambassadors to your end users and can help determine whether to escalate issues. Encourage end users to use Creo Parametric and have them report any issues to power users.

Often, end users report errors when the issue is that they do not know how Creo Parametric operates. Ideally, all end users will be trained on how to perform their job with Creo Parametric, but that is not always the case. Power users can help determine which issues to escalate to the support team and which issues result in extra training or instruction for the end users.

02. Prepare to Transition to Long-term Support Strategy

Review the criteria you planned in your support strategy to determine when to transition to your long-term support strategy.

Remember, if your end users are seeking frequent support, extend your short-term support timeline. Provide your end users with the amount of support they need and adjust your timeline as needed.

03. Transition to Long-term Support

Your internal team will be responsible for long-term support after short-term support ends. Typically, there is not a formal meeting to transition to long-term support, so make sure your team is prepared.

Ensure end users know how to contact power users, your organization’s system administrator, and IT when they need help. We recommend having a Creo Parametric expert in IT or establishing a “help desk” for Creo Parametric within your IT department. Help desk personnel should complete Creo Parametric training so they’re prepared to answer basic questions and troubleshoot problems.

In cases when the help desk cannot resolve the employee’s issue, PTC offers technical support. With your subscription we offer:

Access to PTC’s eSupport Portal & Knowledge Base
Unlimited Technical Support Cases
PTC Community Support and the PTC CAD Community Support
Performance Advisor to monitor product usage

When opening a case, include:

Which Creo Parametric version you have
Detailed description of the issue
Steps to reproduce the issue
Any related data files or screenshots, if needed
Text of error messages or warnings you have received

Recommended Resources

PTC’s eSupport Portal & Knowledge Base
Getting Started with the Knowledge Base eSupport
Manage your Technical Support Case eSupport
Customer Support Contact Page eSupport
CAD - PTC Community PTC Communities
PTC Community Support PTC Communities
Creo Performance Advisor Help Center

Measure Business Impact

Revisit the goals and metrics you established earlier. Then, gather the data you need to measure success.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Gather Metrics

Evaluate Metrics

Review Usage Metrics

Share Results with Stakeholders

01. Gather Metrics

Review your measurement strategy after Creo Parametric is live and accessible to all end users.

Give end users time to get acquainted with Creo Parametric to ensure successful results. At a minimum, we recommend waiting 30 to 90 days to review how it is going with the main end users. This review period allows for adequate time to capture data and let the new processes take hold. This time can be extended based on the schedule you established in your measurement plan.

Consider the following:

How has Creo Parametric improved the design process?
Are engineers creating high-quality designs more efficiently and with fewer errors?
Is the number of requests for analysis decreasing?
What is the end user feedback on Creo Parametric?

02. Evaluate Metrics

Compare the baseline metrics to your current data to determine how much value Creo Parametric has provided so far. If you are not achieving value, there are two potential reasons:

The set of metrics you chose may not be accurate
There may be another factor affecting the current outcome, such as end users not consistently using Creo Parametric.

Investigate what the issue might be, reassess, and make adjustments.

At this point, confirm your goals have not changed from your initial measurement plan. Then, consider if they are still relevant and adjust accordingly. If you do adjust your goals, give your stakeholders a clear explanation.

At the end of the project, we recommend summarizing the work to help improve or jumpstart future upgrades. We recommend you note:

Who was part of the executing team and their responsibilities?
What testing activities were completed for this project and the results testers had?
What errors or challenges occurred in the process and how were they resolved?
What errors were reported to your technical support or product management teams?

Revisit your original goals and measure the business impact of the project. For example, after training, how has the design process or time changed?

03. Review Usage Metrics

As your team continues to learn and use Creo Parametric, we advise that CAD admins keep track of usage metrics from end users, as well as bugs or errors. To help your CAD admins, PTC provides Creo Performance Advisor, our product telemetry tool powered by PTC ThingWorx, to everyone.

With Creo Performance Advisor, a CAD admin can get aggregated views of usage and diagnostic data from Creo Parametric and other PTC products. Reports may include:

System stability
Engineer usage (session counts)
Unexpected crashes or errors

Making use of these reports and dashboards can help your team improve operational productivity by detecting performance issues early, predicting usage, and managing users accordingly. Learn more about the Performance Advisor tool in our Help Center Overview and how to access it in the PTC Creo Dashboard Environment.

Recommended Resources

Performance Advisor Help Center Help Center
How to access the Performance Advisor for PTC Creo dashboard environment eSupport

04. Share Results with Stakeholders

Share the results and adjustments to your value propositions with the project sponsor, project team, organizational leaders, end users, and other stakeholders. It is important to share these results to inform stakeholders of Creo Parametric's value. Reviewing these results can also help you strategize the next steps.

You provide a clearer picture of value if you continue to measure and report your findings over time. In addition, continuing to communicate to the end users on Creo Parametric’s value helps make the value real to them and reinforces the tool's usage.

Consider Next Steps

Creo Parametric is a powerful tool. Learn more below about how you can leverage Creo Parametric’s capabilities and expand your experience. Contact your sales representative or customer success manager to get started with expanding your Creo Parametric package.

Before you begin, complete these steps:

Steps on this page

Explore Creo Simulation Live

Explore Additive Manufacturing Extension

Explore Creo Parametric Performance Advisor

Create your Digital Thread

Plan for Future Upgrades

01. Explore Creo Simulation Live

Creo Simulation Live (CSL) is a tool engineers and designers can use to perform 3D simulations on models throughout the design process. CSL allows users to change materials, loads, or constraints and view instant simulation results. They can also visualize the results of the analysis without needing a detailed understanding of the design.

With CSL, analysts can reduce the number of high-fidelity simulations that are often required later in the design process, saving your organization time and money.

There is no longer a need to toggle between simulation and modeling or long-solver computations for small iterations. For example, solver calculation can be shrunk by a factor of 5000, and the computation result obtained instantly.

Visit Creo Simulation Live to learn more.

Recommended Resources

Creo Simulation Live
Creo Simulation Live Onboarding Success Services Catalog
Get Started with Creo Simulation Live

02. Explore Additive Manufacturing Extension

With Creo Parametric additive manufacturing extension, you can develop innovative designs, optimize, and print to a variety of printers with ease, all within Creo Parametric. With no more time-consuming, error-ridden hassle of multiple software packages, you will reduce time-to-market and expense with rapid prototyping and enable part consolidation.

Recommended Resources

03. Explore Creo Parametric Performance Advisor

To help your CAD admins keep track of usage metrics from end users, PTC provides Creo Performance Advisor, our product telemetry tool powered by PTC ThingWorx, to everyone.

With Creo Performance Advisor, a CAD admin can get aggregated views of usage and diagnostic data from Creo and other PTC products. Reports may include:

System stability
Engineer usage (session counts)
Unexpected crashes or errors

Making use of these reports and dashboards can help your team improve operational productivity by detecting performance issues early, predicting usage, and managing users accordingly.

Learn more about the Performance Advisor tool in our Help Center Overview and how to access it in the PTC Creo Dashboard Environment.

Recommended Resources

Performance Advisor Overview Help Center
How to access the Performance Advisor for PTC Creo dashboard environment eSupport PTC login required

04. Create your Digital Thread

A digital thread creates a “closed loop” between digital and physical activities of an organization. It enables continuity of data across departments and collaboration across functions to improve the product and the physical processes and empowers the people who are involved at every step.

Read more about the digital thread and its benefits.

05. Plan for Future Upgrades

PTC makes significant investments in improving every release of Creo for all end users. In the future, when you are ready to upgrade your version of Creo Parametric, we are ready to support you.

Recommended Resources

Upgrade Your Creo Parametric Success Path
Checklists for Updating to Creo Parametric 3.0 and later eSupport PTC login required

Do not duplicate or distribute this downloaded file without written permission from PTC.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Product Documentation

Find detailed technical documentation on Creo+ in our Help Center

Ask the Community

Visit PTC's Creo Community to get support Peer-to-Peer, from our product management and assistance teams. Share ideas, give feedback and browse the wealth of information on using Creo+

Technical Support

Need help from our support team? Log a case with eSupport using our Case Logger or find an answer using our new Creo Admin Troubleshooter tool.

Contact Us

Have a question? Submit your contact information and we’ll reach out within 1 business day. You’re never obligated to purchase or commit.

Get in Touch

Get Started with Creo Parametric

Plan CAD Data Migration

01. Set Realistic Expectations

02. Evaluate Data Needs

03. Choose a Migration Method

Remodel All Parts and Assemblies

Conduct a Feature-by-feature Translation

Open Files in Creo Parametric and Modify as Needed

04. Plan When to Retire the Current CAD System

05. Verify Product Lifecycle Management System

Table of Contents

Overview: Get Started with Creo Parametric

What is a Success Path?

Get Familiar with Creo Parametric

01. Learn the Basics

02. Explore Features and Functionality

Assemble Your Team

01. Identify Roles and Responsibilities

02. Identify Project Stakeholders

03. Identify Internal Partners

04. Identify and Engage Your End Users

05. Identify Training Resources

06. Determine Outside Resources Needed

Evaluate and Acquire Hardware

01. Analyze Hardware and Software

02. Consider PTC Product Compatibility

Creo Parametric and PLM Software

Working with Different Versions of Creo Parametric

Creo Parametric and Other CAD Systems

03. Consider Security Implications

04. Consider Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

05. Get Approval on the Hardware and Software Budget

Assess Changes to Design Process

01. Document Existing Design Processes

02. Document New Design Processes

Examine Modeling Methods

01. Learn more about Model-based Definition

02. Learn more about Top-down Design

03. Learn more about Multi-body Design

Plan and Measure Key Performance Indicators

01. Determine Goals and Metrics

02. Define Your Measurement Plan

03. Establish Baseline Metrics

Plan CAD Data Migration

01. Set Realistic Expectations

02. Evaluate Data Needs

03. Choose a Migration Method

Remodel All Parts and Assemblies

Conduct a Feature-by-feature Translation

Open Files in Creo Parametric and Modify as Needed

04. Plan When to Retire the Current CAD System

05. Verify Product Lifecycle Management System

Plan Deployment

01. Determine Product or Project Scope

02. Create Implementation Plan

Install Any Additional Hardware or Software

Plan Your Software Installation

Plan Integration Testing with Other Systems

03. Plan How to Retire Current CAD System

04. Plan User Acceptance Testing

Plan Communications

01. Create Communications

02. Build Excitement and Address Concerns

Engage Leadership

Introduce Creo Parametric to Employees

Communicate in Multiple Ways

03. Establish a Mechanism for Listening to Concerns

Plan Adoption and Training Activities

01. Create a Rollout Plan

02. Create Your Organizational Change Management Plan

03. Plan Role-based Training

04. Plan How to Deliver the Training

05. Update Documentation

06. Create Administration Documentation

07. Consider Localization and Translation

Plan Creo Parametric Support Strategy

01. Plan Short-term Support Strategy

02. Plan Transition to Long-term Support

03. Plan Long-term Support Strategy

04. Document Your Support Strategy