PTC Creo Parametric is a powerful 3D CAD modeling software, but repetitive tasks can slow down your workflow. To maximize efficiency, CAD administrators and power users combine two automation tools: and Operating System (OS) scripts .
How to call a external applications using OS script (mapkey)?
mapkey $F12 @MAPKEY_NAMERelease to MFG;\ ~ Command `ProCmdModelSaveAs` ;\ ~ Select `file_saveas` `type_option` 1 `STEP`;\ ~ Open `file_saveas` `ph_list.Filelist`; \ ~ Select `file_saveas` `ph_list.Filelist` 1 `C:\CREO_EXPORTS\current.step`;\ ~ Command `ProCmdFileSave` ;\ ~ Command `ProCmdPrint` ;\ ~ Select `print_dlg` `pdf_export_btn` 1 ;\ ~ Activate `print_dlg` `OK` ;\ ~ Delay 1 ;\ ~ Command `ProCmdUtilSystem` `system("C:\scripts\release_to_manufacturing.bat &model_name &pro_mp_revision")`;\ ~ Command `ProCmdFileEraseNotDisp` ;
mapkey my_script @MAPKEY_NAMERun OS Script;\ ~ Command `ProCmdSessionCustomRibbon` ;\ ~ Command `ProCmdUtilSystem` `system("C:\scripts\export_and_rename.bat")`;
Instead of hardcoding specific user folders, use universal Windows environment variables so the mapkey works for every engineer on your team: %USERPROFILE% (e.g., C:\Users\username ) %TEMP% (Local temporary folder) mapkey .tmp @SYSTEMcopy *.log "%TEMP%\Creo_Logs\"; Use code with caution. 3. Handle Spaces with Caution creo mapkey os script example
A script running outside of Creo in the host operating system shell. This is typically a Batch file ( .bat or .cmd ) or a PowerShell script ( .ps1 ) on Windows, or a Shell script ( .sh ) on Linux.
This guide provides clear examples and best practices for integrating Operating System commands directly into your Creo environment. What is a Creo OS Script Mapkey?
In the Mapkey dialog box, click on to create a new Mapkey. Give your Mapkey a name, such as "Create_Project_Dir".
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") WshShell.AppActivate "Parameter" WshShell.SendKeys "TAB 2" WshShell.SendKeys "^c" ' Ctrl+C to copy WshShell.SendKeys "%F4" ' Alt+F4 to close dialog PTC Creo Parametric is a powerful 3D CAD
Avoid relative paths like ..\..\file.txt . Creo's active working directory changes constantly depending on the model or drawing you open. Always hardcode absolute paths (e.g., C:\Creo_Standards\Scripts\ ) or use system environment variables. 2. Leverage System Environment Variables
: Use Creo's built‑in information commands (e.g., Tools > Investigate > View Changes or Tools > Model Information ) to write model information to a text file. The OS script can then read that file and extract the data it needs.
Creo struggles with spaces in file paths. Wrap paths in double quotes or avoid spaces entirely.
Advanced PTC Creo Automation: Creo Mapkey OS Script Examples This is typically a Batch file (
: If your script path contains spaces, wrap it in double quotes (e.g., "C:\My Scripts\test.bat" Python or Batch script to pair with this mapkey for a particular task? About Mapkeys - Creo Parametric - PTC Support Portal
OS scripts in Creo take automation to the next level by allowing users to write scripts using programming languages like Visual Basic (VB), Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), or even JavaScript. These scripts can interact with the operating system and Creo, enabling more complex automation tasks that go beyond what is possible with standard Mapkeys. For instance, you can use OS scripts to automate file management, interact with other applications, or perform calculations based on your design parameters.
By default, @SYSTEM briefly flashes a black Windows Command Prompt window on your screen. To prevent this visual interruption, use the Windows start /B flag.