PreReleaseGuide.pdf

PTC Global Services- Innovation Center

Pro/E xLink Pre-Release Guide

Pro/E Wildfire Pre-Release Guide

Issue #2, Updated 23-Feb-02

S. Tucker

-FOR PTC INTERNAL USE ONLY-

DISCLAIMER

The information presented in this document is intended to be an overview / summary of the many

changes for the next release of Pro/E. Most of this information I have taken from internal

development web sites, focus group meetings, or from running early development builds myself-

starting in Nov Ó01. Obviously, with software builds being created almost every week and ongoing

functionality discussions/decisions, there are likely to be details or functions discussed here that

may de different or not included in the pre-production build (May) or production build (August).

Also, much of this document will be written from a trainerÓs perspective, given my personal

background. Finally, although we should discuss high level themes of the next release with

customers and students to get them excited, do not distribute this document outside of PTC, as

much of this information is not yet publicly released. -Seth

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Pro/E Wildfire , or release 2002, marks the beginning of a paradigm shift within the

Pro/ENGINEER user interface, aimed at increased efficiency, productivity, and ease-of use.

Pro/E now runs full-screen without the menu manager, with a changed look and feel. Features are

consolidated into a new set of object/action based tools which utilize the on-screen ÒdashboardÓ.

Models and features are manipulated dynamically, using drag handles and right mouse button

operations; and the model tree is reborn as the ÒNavigatorÓ, providing web-enabled collaboration

tools. In addition, hundreds of enhancements are implemented in Pro/E Wildfire, dramatically

expanding current Pro/E functionality.

Among vast user interface changes in Pro/E Wildfire, users will begin to see the results of ÒProject

WildfireÓ, which transforms Pro/E from a stand-alone application to one where the user is at the

center of a Òconnected environmentÓ for creation, collaboration, and control within the product

development process. As the cornerstone of this new environment, the Navigator will provide

Engineer-to-Web and Engineer-to-Engineer collaboration.

Users will have instant browsing and bookmark access to the internet, which will also allow

connections to PTC PartsLink online part catalogs, PTC ProjectLink collaboration workspaces, and

a variety of other PTC web-based application ÒLinksÓ, all powered by Windchill. In addition, direct

collaboration will be supported with dynamic design conferencing, which can connect multiple

engineers similar to instant messaging, and also allows users to ÒshareÓ their Pro/E session across

the web with coworkers on design projects.

In short? Everything in Pro/E is changed. I mean everything . This has been over three years in the

making, and now Pro/E literally looks and feels like a different piece of software- but all for the

better. Feature > Create is gone and we are ÐdoneÑ with Done-Return. We all have a lot of work

ahead of us to learn the new tool- this document is 110 pages and growing, and doesnÓt nearly

cover everything about this release- the most significant update that Pro/E has ever had.

Pro/E Wildfire Pre-Release Guide S. Tucker

Page 2 of 110

-FOR PTC INTERNAL USE ONLY-

WHAT IS PRO/E WILDFIRE?

Pro/E Wildfire is the next release of Pro/ENGINEER. Actually, were not even supposed

to call it ÒPro/ENGINEERÓ anymore starting with this next release. Similar to how we

officially changed the name of the company from Parametric Technology Corporation to

PTC, we are changing from Pro/ENGINEER to Pro/E. This is what our customers

commonly refer to our software as, and is analogous to Federal Express re-branding

themselves as FedEx. Also, you will notice there is no ÒyearÓ designation- like Pro/E 2002,

Pro/E 24, Wildfire 2002 or anything like that. Just Pro/E Wildfire .

The figure below demonstrates the latest marketing layout for all of our products. Pro/E

Wildfire can be thought of as the keystone centerpiece software component in the Òproduct

development processÓ, with all of our other products supporting it as ÒlinksÓ.

So why is everything a ÒlinkÓ and what is Wildfire? The code-name Wildfire was

originally used for the development project that essentially makes Pro/E web-enabled.

However, now since this buzzword has hit the market, we have decided to call Pro/E as a

whole ÒWildfireÓ. With web capability, Pro/E can instantly tie into our web-driven

Windchill links. Wildfire ties our whole product line together.

Another ÒlinkÓ not represented here is Innovation Link, which is not due out for almost a

year. There may also be other links IÓm not aware of. A couple other interesting facts you

may or may not be aware of: First, PDM Link is the replacement for Intralink, (which will

be retired in the future) and is created entirely from scratch using Windchill technology.

Second, with the release of the second Pro/E Mechanism component (MDO), Mechanica

Motion will also soon be retired.

Pro/E Wildfire Pre-Release Guide S. Tucker

Page 3 of 110

-FOR PTC INTERNAL USE ONLY-

WHY CHANGE?

HereÓs a quote from product definition:

ÐWe believe that the future of the CAD portion of the business is inherently and naturally

intertwined with how usable the user community perceives our software to be. The goal of

the entire Product Definition organization, is to be able to one day hand a prospective

customer a CD of Pro/Engineer, and have him be productive, with minimal training,

immediately. We are endeavoring to use interface paradigms that are common-enough, and

common-sense enough, and extending common interface tools where required, while

maintaining the broadest and deepest amount of prior functionality as possible. In this way,

we will maximize new license revenue, while maintaining as much as possible of our

existing user base.Ñ

ÐÈproductive with minimal training, immediatelyÑ. Obviously this statement impacts the

future of the training department. Thinking of the impact of this release alone on our core

MCAD curriculum, I see the number of course days a student requires to be proficient with

Pro/E shrinking considerably.

So the driving force in this release is really ease-of-use. If youÓve ever taught a Pro/E

training course, think of the majority of learning time spent by the studentsÈhow much

time is spent purely on learning the interface, as opposed to Pro/E concepts and

techniques?

How much time is wasted with students struggling with the hierarchical Menu Manager,

with its Query Selects, Done Selects, DoneÓs , and Done-Returns?

Think about how many feature operations do practically the same thing- Extruded

Protrusion, Extruded Surface, Extruded Cut, Extruded Thin Protrusion, Extruded Thin Cut,

Extruded Surface Trim, etcÈ.

Why do we need so many menu picks?

The answer is- We donÓt.

Pro/E Wildfire Pre-Release Guide S. Tucker

Page 4 of 110

-FOR PTC INTERNAL USE ONLY-

THE NEW LOOK OF Pro/E Wildfire (UPDATED)

The graphics area has a cleaner simpler look so it can easily handle the complicated images

it needs to support. Flattening the framework, lightening the background and overall colors

eliminates sharp contrast. Eliminating wasted space in separators and padding yields more

graphics area. Buttons have rounded corners, which is similar to the new Windows XP.

Also, the use of the softer, brighter colors is another part of the XP look, as well as the

absence of the use of the color black from icons. Also notice that Pro/E now runs full

screen- there is no menu manager. WeÓll look at the components of the interface in detail

later. (Shown in Windows XP with the new default background and model color!)

Pro/E Wildfire Pre-Release Guide S. Tucker

Page 5 of 110

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