Keyboard Shortcut for Changing Windows

[seanmm18]

I am currently using Creo Parametric 7.0. I want to switch between open windows using Ctrl + Tab like every single other software does. I searched for a while and found no options in the software or even anyone asking about it. Is there some way I can make this a keyboard shortcut or something? Is this feature just not integrated into Creo at all?

[tbraxton]

AFAIK CTRL+Tab to cycle through open windows is not supported in Creo.

This will present a list of windows and you can select them as required.

[seanmm18]

That's what I've been doing. I was hoping there was maybe a keyboard shortcut I could set or something.

It seems ridiculous to me this feature isn't just automatically supported in the software. I have used programs running on Windows XP that have this functionality. I'm surprised that it seems no one has brought this up before to be honest.

[BenLoosli]

The user interface is not using Microsoft widgets but PTC created ones. All of the Creo dialog boxes are designed and created by PTC. Any expectation that the Creo interface would function like a Microsoft product is totally misplaced. Other CAD software (SolidWorks, NX, OnShape, SolidEdge, etc.) running on Windows does use the Microsoft libraries for widgets and dialogs. 

[seanmm18]

Thanks for the info. I did not know that about Creo. I still think it's a pretty simple feature that would be useful, and I was surprised to see that Creo doesn't seem to have it. The lack of keyboard shortcuts is one of the first things I noticed when switching over from SolidWorks.

[Dale_Rosema]

There are keyboard shortcuts embedded in the menu, but primarily, I use mapkeys (programs that run a series of commands) with up to 4 letter to trigger the mapkey. I try to make all my mapkeys "left-handed" since I am a right handed mouser.

[seanmm18]

I've heard about mapkeys but haven't gotten around to looking into that yet. Could be useful, though I imagine you can't use it to switch between windows?

[DK_11195542]

Ubiquitous user expectations are totally misplaced. Got it. Thanks for the explanation, Ben.

[Dale_Rosema]

I am on Creo 4.0 and when I hold the Ctrl key down and then start tabbing, I can see all of the different model and drawing windows. Does this go away in a later release of Creo?

[seanmm18]

That's interesting, it definitely doesn't do anything in Creo 7.0.5.0. I'm not sure why that feature would be removed.

[Dale_Rosema]

[seanmm18]

That's with Ctrl + Tab? I can see different open windows when I use Alt + Tab, but it looks like it's a Windows feature rather than Creo and it pulls up every open window, not just Creo.

[Dale_Rosema]

You are correct -  Alt-tab. Brain warp late in an afternoon.

Yes it is a Windows thing and pulls everything up.

It is fairly quick to switch that way.

I had several other things open also, I just had the most recent as those windows in order to get the screen shot.

[MikeCavins]

Interesting.

I am on Creo 6 and the ctrl-tab does nothing as well.  But if I hold the ctrl button and left click the Creo icon on the Task bar, it will cycle through the windows.

I have no idea if that's even worth it considering if I just hover over the Creo icon on the task tray, it displays smaller images of each that I can just choose.

Mike

[seanmm18]

Hi Mike.

I see what you're talking about. I agree it's not much different than hovering over the taskbar icon. I was hoping there was some way to just use the keyboard as I prefer to use keyboard shortcuts more than mouse clicks. Just seems smoother to me.

So far it seems like the closest I can get is the method Dale mentioned, using alt + tab. Not optimal but it kind of works.

[AS_11970356]

I hope they have added this in CREO 10.0.7 that my employer is going to deploy.

I don't understand why in general with all things they re-invent the wheel when they have a default windows or SW experience to replicate. Bad for ergonomics.

[Dale_Rosema]

Why not Alt-Tab? (I know it's a windows thing) I don't see other software doing a Ctrl-Tab thing: Word, Excel, MasterCAM, Adobe, .....