Creation of a document that lists all the preferences in the Windchill Preference Manager

[gwhite]

There are loads of different preferences listed in the preference manager, some only at Site level, some only at user level.

What I would like to see is a PTC document showing all of the preferences and what they do, rather than having to go through each preference individually.

[GregOlson]

Also add examples of what the preference would do...real world example.  I know that some preferences are pretty self explanatory, but most are not!

[MikeLockwood]

Agree that many preferences are not all that evident - even though most include some explanatory text.

Tough for PTC to maintain a separate document on this - I'd like to see them invest a bit more effort in the explanatory text for each.

To get at them, a query builder report can relatively easily be created that will allow putting all out to a file.  Absolutely need this in order to record why you have set various preference values over time.

[Pekholm]

I Agree. We can see that the number of preferences are incresing for each release. The possitive aspect is that we have one common UI to set system behaiour rather than in different property files. The issue is to find and understand the impact of each preference. I separate guide ( or chapter in configuration guide) is needed. We also need a way to simple export/import preferences when moving configurations from test to production.

[jzupfer]

My team is working on a comprehensive resource for preferences; as suggested above, we are able to extract the existing information with a QueryBuilder report.  We're also working with our development teams to improve the quality and consistency of the preference descriptions.  These enhancements will be rolled out in upcoming releases.

Jane

Jane Zupfer
VP, Enterprise Products Publications
T 763.957.8299   E -

PTC.com

[jzupfer]

In addition, there is a command line utility available to export and import preferences from test to production. The utility is documented in a help topic entitled “Exporting and Importing Preferences” and its child topics:

For 10.0:   http://www.ptc.com/cs/help/windchill_hc/wc100_hc/index.jspx?id=PrefExImp_About&action=show

For 10.1:  http://www.ptc.com/cs/help/windchill_hc/wc101_hc/index.jspx?id=PrefExImp_About&action=show

For 10.2:   http://www.ptc.com/cs/help/windchill_hc/wc102_hc/index.jspx?id=PrefExImp_About&action=show

Jane

[JSchrader]

Jane,

I'd like to add one more dimension if possible or as a separate report. What would be extremely helpful would be showing also what's been changed from default. That would at least help narrow down any changes that have been made to the system and give a little bit smaller report since the preferences are quite extensive now and will only keep growing.

Jason

[STEVEG]

This was almost 2 years ago and it was stated the enhancements will be rolled out soon.  Has this been implemented?  If so then why is this idea not closed?  I don't have access to the server so I can't use the command line utility.

[jzupfer]

Yes, Steve is right, and we have not made the anticipated progress.  Based on additional investigation, I've come to believe that, rather than create an external reference, we would be more effective working with Development to improve the information provided in the Preference Manager itself, and to make it easier to export information.

I have not abandoned or forgotten about this goal, so I haven't closed the idea.  My apologies for the lack of progress.

Jane

[STEVEG]

Jane,

Improving the Preference Manager for this would be helpful.  Thank you for the update.

[STEVEG]

Jane,

Is there any decision on if or when this might be available?  If it still won't be for a while then that's fine.  No problem at all.  It's just that it would be nice to have an update.

[JeffZemsky]

It does not complete the overall idea, but with Windchill 11.0 there is a new Help Center topic that documents New or Updated Preferences and Properties.  It can be found here:

http://support.ptc.com/cs/help/windchill_hc/wc110_hc/index.jspx?id=NewandChanged_PrefsProps_X26_F000...

[TomU]

Jeffrey Zemsky‌, someone needs to review this document.  I don't think the status of something should be "Yes".

[JeffZemsky]

Thanks Tom

Publications already updated the PDF.  The Help takes a bit more to update which will follow at the next release

http://support.ptc.com/WCMS/files/169116/en/PTCWindchill11.0F000WhatsNew.pdf