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@SYSTEM : The system call trigger that executes the external OS command.
This approach uses SendKeys to simulate keyboard input, effectively automating UI interactions that would otherwise require manual input.
for a task like automatically moving exported DXF files to a project folder? Mapkey Writing/Editing Tips - PTC Community
VBScripts are often used to manipulate the Windows clipboard or send keystrokes back to Creo.
This dynamically resolves to the correct path regardless of which user is logged in. Common system variables you can use include $USERNAME (the current user's name) and $USERPROFILE (the user's profile directory). Using these variables makes your mapkeys portable and easier to share among team members.
REM Log it echo %DATE% %TIME% - Released %PART_NUMBER% Rev %REV% >> \SERVER\LOGS\release.log exit /b 0 creo mapkey os script example
: If the mapkey script spans multiple lines, each line except the last must end with a semicolon and a trailing backslash ( ;\ ).
echo %DATE% %TIME% ARG1=%1 ARG2=%2 >> C:\debug.log
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Script not running at all | Permissions or path has spaces | Enclose in quotes: system("C:\my scripts\run.bat") → system("\"C:\my scripts\run.bat\"") | | Creo freezes | SYSTEM used instead of PROTECT for interactive script | Use PROTECT() | | Variables not passing | Spaces in arguments | In batch, use "%*" or quoted %1 | | Mapkey stops mid-way | A dialog appeared unexpectedly | Use ~ Command ProCmdDone or ProCmdCancel` after the OS call |
– Always back up your config.pro before adding complex Mapkeys. One infinite loop can crash Creo.
: Tells Creo to pass the following text to the operating system's command processor. @SYSTEM : The system call trigger that executes
WScript.Quit()
A allows you to execute external system commands, batch files, or scripts directly from within a Creo Parametric session without minimizing the application. This is achieved using the @SYSTEM directive within your config.pro or mapkeys.pro file. Syntax Overview
To help refine this automation for your specific workflow, let me know: What is your Creo workstation running on?
Advanced workflows involve passing data from Creo to external databases. This mapkey copies a parameter value (like a Part Number) to the Windows clipboard, then launches a Python script that reads the clipboard, queries an ERP database, and writes the component details to a local text file for the engineer.
| Windows Variable | Creo Syntax | Description | |----------------|-------------|-------------| | %USERPROFILE% | $USERPROFILE | Current user's profile directory (e.g., C:\Users\username ) | | %USERNAME% | $USERNAME | Current user's login name | | %TEMP% | $TEMP | Temporary files directory | | %APPDATA% | $APPDATA | Application data directory | Mapkey Writing/Editing Tips - PTC Community VBScripts are
: 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
@echo off REM Creates a standardized timestamped backup directory SET current_date=%date:~10,4%-%date:~4,2%-%date:~7,2% MKDIR "C:\Creo_Backups\Backup_%current_date%" exit Use code with caution.
Automating PTC Creo: A Deep Dive into Mapkeys and OS Scripts
In a Creo mapkey, the command sequence ~ Run OS tells Creo to pause its internal operations and pass a command string to the Windows shell (cmd.exe). This is the bridge between CAD modeling and system-level automation. Key Syntax Components : Defines the start of the macro. $F7 : The keyboard shortcut (in this example, the F7 key). @SYSTEM : Tells Creo to execute a system-level command.