Proe <> PRODESKTOP...

Hello - Can anyone tell me what the compatibility between Pro/E Wildfire
and PRO/DESKTOP is? Isn't ProDesktop what is left of ComputerVision? So
can I build an assembly in Pro/E and view it in PD? There seems to be a
free download of PD can you do much with that? It would seem like it
would have to be pretty limited.

Thanks,
Dan

 

Pro Desktop is actually quite a good program. The files can be read directly
by Pro/E. It started as Design Wave and changed to Pro Desktop and became
compatible with Pro/E. The free download is almost a full program with
things like rendering left out.

It is definitely not a leftover from Computervision. I was a Personal
Designer user from revision 1 and moved to PTC when Computervision was
bought out as a beta tester for Design Wave

Personal Designer was dropped by PTC (which I always thought was a mistake
since it was better than AutoCAD) and they tried a new product called Design
Post which was a disaster and lasted for about 6 months.

Doug

 

Thanks! good to know the history! So what happened to ComputerVision?
PTC did buy that right? There must have been something PTC wanted there.

So the free download is 3D? can you go the other way, draw in PD and
then transfer to Pro/E? ... now that I'm thinking about it ... Isn't
there a free viewer for Pro/E?

-Dan

 

: Hello - Can anyone tell me what the compatibility between Pro/E Wildfire
: and PRO/DESKTOP is?

PD can open Pro/e files, IGES, STEP, DXF and several other file formats. You can
make parts and assemblies and drawings in PD, basic stuff with object/action
functionality that's similar to SW. In PD assemblies, you can freely mix PD and
Pro/e parts. It just added the ability to import surface models or models with
surfaces in them ~ Pro/e, IGES, STEP, etc. File handling is good, all Windows GUI
operation, and graphics are spectacular. They have a translucent view (like Pro/e
hidden lines) that you need to see to believe. Plus, Pro/e just adopted PD's key
combo for spin/pan/zoom. Now they work the same. It's the kind of software you
wish would be bundled on every Dell computer sold and give everyone, kids
included, an experience with solid modelling.

It also has features that are unavailable or undeveloped in Pro/e, like a pretty
nice album feature that would be good for engineering notebooks, product
catalogues or assembly instruction booklets.

The free download of the Express version comes with tutorials to get you started.
It's worth trying out. And with completely painless installation, don't see what's
to lose.

: Isn't ProDesktop what is left of ComputerVision?

No, CADDS5 is what is left of CV. Pro/DESKTOP was bought out by PTC in the middle
90s. It used to be called something else, don't remember the name, but not
connected to CV.

David Janes

 

: <snip> ... now that I'm thinking about it ... Isn't
: there a free viewer for Pro/E?
:
Yes, believe it or not, there's actually several free versions of PTC software for
download from PTC.COM The one you're thinking of is ProductView, the Express
version. It can view any Pro/e parts and assemblies (even SE parts) and to my
knowledge, is not release sensitive (possibly if you go back far enough, not
sure).

Thanks, Doug, for clarifying the PD history. Couldn't remember Design Wave's name.

David Janes

 

Design Wave was a product created by a French company (I think). PTC bought
that company, and re-badged (which is the reason difference in interfaces)
it to Pro/Desktop to compete at the Solidworks level. Since then its kernel
has been updated to 'Granite' which brings the Pro/E compatibility and Pro/E
has gained some of it's intelligent selection capabilities.

As for computervision. My understanding is that CADDS5 / Optegra are still
in existance because there are some major customers ('000's of licences)
using the software who are not yet prepared to transfer to another system.
It was supposed to die at approx rev 8 or 9 I think.

What is really interesting is that the people who set up PTC did so when
they left Computervision. A number of programmers etc had an idea of what
CADDS should become but were prevented from doing so when at Computervision,
and hence went their own way.

 

I believe that CV Designwave was about 3-5 years ahead of its time

I beta tested it. I didn't think so. Neither it seems did anyone else.
What it did have was a good start and great potential.

That it did have.

jon