Creating a new menu tab within Creo parametric 7.0 that provide links to an external application

[QC_8121083]

Hello Community,

I am a fairly new user to Creo parametric and its application interface. I am trying to code a new menu tab inside of creo parametric 7.0. I would like to connect an external application to this menu tab so that information from the mentioned external application is accesible within creo parametric 7.0 via this menu tab. 

I have been looking for solutions and searching around in the forums and documentation websites and i came across stuffs like Jlink, PTC toolkit java and C++ and some other similar stuffs but i have little idea about how they work as i have limited knowledge in coding and IT stuffs. Hence i have been spinning around in circles for the past few weeks.

I would be really grateful if someone can give me some hints or at least point me in the right direction.

Thank you in advance.

[Chris3]

i have limited knowledge in coding and IT stuffs.

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This may not be the right path for you then. Working with the toolkits is not for the faint of heart. Below is a link to the Toolkit guide. There is one for each flavor (java, C++, weblink, VB)

https://www.ptc.com/support/-/media/support/refdocs/Creo_Parametric/7,-d-,0/tkuse_Creo7000.pdf?sc_lang=en 

If all you are looking for is a link to pull up external information (with no hook back into Creo) then a mapkey utilizing the system command might be a better approach for you.

You could also look into SmartAssembly

https://www.sigmaxim.com/index.php/products/configuration-tools/smart-assembly 

or CreoSON

http://www.creoson.com/ 

[tbraxton · Accepted solution]

Without using an API, one option is to create a mapkey that calls an OS script. You can add this mapkey to the UI in Creo so it is part of the GUI.  If you need to exchange data from within a Creo session to an external app then this is probably not a complete solution.

Article - CS151240 - Information about Mapkey with OS Script type in Creo Parametric (ptc.com)