Parameter required to check-in document is locked by Windchill

Hi All--

I have a part I want to add to an assembly (which I created from within the assembly using the "Create Component" feature. However, checking-in the assembly fails because the part does not have certain descriptive parameters filled out. Those descriptive parameters show as "locked" when I open the part, right-click in the model tree, and select "Edit Parameters". If I can't upload this document to Windchill, how am I supposed to fill out those parameters?

Do I *have* to start every document from Windchill itself? How would I do that for a part that I'm creating from within an assembly?

FYI, I am new to Creo Parametric as well as Creo Windchill. Please forgive my ignorance.

Thanks all

.bp