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Ramon_Bohne14-Alexandrite
14-Alexandrite
September 30, 2025
Solved

Creo Illustrate / Sudden problems with symbols

  • September 30, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 706 views

Hi all,

I have a completely new problem with 3D and 2D symbols.

This problem appeared suddenly. I never had this problem before. And after I had this problem, it also appeared for a colleague. That's why I decided to ask for advice here in the forum.


What is the problem?

Suddenly, I can no longer insert symbols. And symbols that I was able to insert before are suddenly no longer visible. Please watch the added video.

 

Perhaps one of you has a good explanation and solution. Otherwise, I will have to contact support ... again.

 

Best regards

Ramon bohne

(Siemens Energy)

    Best answer by Ramon_Bohne

    Hello Community,
    I had a meeting with PTC Support on Friday, and they are looking into it now.

     

    However, I discovered the following:
    I changed the standard I had customised in one place (e.g. added a new 3D page format).
    As a result, my Creo Illustrate file updated the standard, and then the 3D symbols reappeared.
    It was a bit like a blocked pipe that needed to be flushed out again ðŸ™‚.


    Of course, it would still be nice to find out what the cause of the problem is. However, I suspect that it is a general database problem with CI. In the same file, I once again had problems with the line settings of callouts being lost on some pages and the page format being lost on others. 

    And then I also had the problem on a 3D figure that after rendering to a 2D figure, the line contour did not match the stored render image. I suspect some kind of centre of gravity issue. All of this has long since been reported to PTC.

     

    This is extremely annoying, and PTC still hasn't fixed these problems.


    So, for me, it means repeatedly fixing the same crap in some temporary way. Sorry, but CI is a great programme, but unfortunately it has far too many bugs and many of its functions are simply not state of the art.

     

    I've already reported all of this to PTC, but none of it has been permanently resolved yet.

     

    Unfortunately, there's no way around CI at the moment, so I hope that PTC will eventually release a BIG UPDATE one day and make some fundamental improvements. 10% of PTC Parametric would be nice.

     

    Best regards

    Ramon Bohne

    (Siemens Energy)

     

    2 replies

    S
    Stephen_DeLeon12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    September 30, 2025

    Hello Ramon,

     

    I am assuming this has to do with a version change. Was the initial file made on a older version and opened in a newer version? Possibly  a similar case in the link attached:

    https://community.ptc.com/t5/Addtl-Creo-Products-View-Sketch/Disappearing-symbols/m-p/783664

     

     

    R
    Ramon_Bohne14-AlexandriteAuthor
    14-Alexandrite
    September 30, 2025

    Hello Stephen,

    At least in the case of the second file (from Mexico), it is not a version change. So I don't think it has anything to do with a version change.
    And if it is, what would be the solution?


    I mean, if you've put many hours of work into a file with dozens of images, and then the symbols no longer work, then all that work may have been for nothing. Then you have to start all over again... and if you're unlucky, it happens again?


    No, no, no, I expect the problem to be analysed and fixed. Perheps someone else has an idea to solve the problem?

     

    Best regards

    Ramon bohne

    (Siemens Energy)

     

    R
    Ramon_Bohne14-AlexandriteAuthorAnswer
    14-Alexandrite
    October 27, 2025

    Hello Community,
    I had a meeting with PTC Support on Friday, and they are looking into it now.

     

    However, I discovered the following:
    I changed the standard I had customised in one place (e.g. added a new 3D page format).
    As a result, my Creo Illustrate file updated the standard, and then the 3D symbols reappeared.
    It was a bit like a blocked pipe that needed to be flushed out again ðŸ™‚.


    Of course, it would still be nice to find out what the cause of the problem is. However, I suspect that it is a general database problem with CI. In the same file, I once again had problems with the line settings of callouts being lost on some pages and the page format being lost on others. 

    And then I also had the problem on a 3D figure that after rendering to a 2D figure, the line contour did not match the stored render image. I suspect some kind of centre of gravity issue. All of this has long since been reported to PTC.

     

    This is extremely annoying, and PTC still hasn't fixed these problems.


    So, for me, it means repeatedly fixing the same crap in some temporary way. Sorry, but CI is a great programme, but unfortunately it has far too many bugs and many of its functions are simply not state of the art.

     

    I've already reported all of this to PTC, but none of it has been permanently resolved yet.

     

    Unfortunately, there's no way around CI at the moment, so I hope that PTC will eventually release a BIG UPDATE one day and make some fundamental improvements. 10% of PTC Parametric would be nice.

     

    Best regards

    Ramon Bohne

    (Siemens Energy)

     

    R
    rheinz13-Aquamarine
    13-Aquamarine
    February 13, 2026

    Hello Ramon,

    I assume Stephen_DeLeon has one good point to check, but due to the fact that Creo Illustrate doesn't like files from newer version - this might be not the root cause. So you are on the same version I'am pretty sure.

    But ... the Version might have been a part of it. Question ...

    • Has you upgraded recently the Version?
      • Because between 10.2 and 11 they changed Standard Management
    • And ... Even the Version is NOT the trouble ...
      • You have to be careful dealing with files based on different Standard
      • That's the reason why Standard management becoming increasingly important
      • So try to verify if the two files using a different Standard, even they look similar they can refer to an different Standard ID

    That is just and area to investigate, but the behavior shown that the Symbols somehow hidden and locked to be used looks like strange.

    R
    Ramon_Bohne14-AlexandriteAuthor
    14-Alexandrite
    February 13, 2026

    Hello rheinz,

     

    I don't think it has anything to do with the version; I'm using version 12.1, by the way.

    We always use the same standard. It's a standard that I created specifically for our work. And yes, from time to time, things are added, corrected, or deleted. So the standard is updated regularly.

     

    However, the problem persists. Just recently, a colleague lost the 3D symbols from her file.

    As already mentioned, we are dealing with this as follows: I edit the standard in the Admin Tool by adding or deleting a 3D symbol.

    This means that when the CI file is opened, the stored standard is updated. And that, in turn, brings the symbols back. It still works, but the situation is obviously not sustainable.

     

    What I'm thinking right now: In another post, I mentioned that every CI file is at least as large as the standard. And the standard contains the 3D symbol library. So it looks as if every file contains the complete symbol library.....which would of course be totally stupid.

     

    But if that were the case, I could also create a separate 3D-Symbol.pvz and link it to my files. Then I could delete the 3D symbols from the standard. Overall, the CI file would still be the same size, but I would have all my symbols securely available via the 3D-Symbol.pvz.

     

    Let's see.

     

    Best regards,

    Ramon Bohne

    (Siemens Energy)

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