About Configuring the Creo Browser

The Creo embedded browser uses the Internet Explorer component that is installed on the computer. Chromium is included in the Creo installation. It is, however, independent of the Chromium-based browser that may be installed on your computer.

When Creo applications such as Creo Parametric, Creo Elements/Direct Modeling and Drafting, Creo View ECAD and MCAD, Creo Direct, Creo Layout, the Creo Options Modeler, and Creo Simulate are connected to the same Creo agent, you can only use a single browser type in a session of a Creo application. You cannot change the browser type in session. To change the browser type, you must exit the current session of the Creo application and all other Creo applications. You must then make sure that the Creo agent process is not running before you specify another browser type and restart the Creo application.

You can configure to use Microsoft Internet Explorer or the Chromium browser as the Creo browser. Internet Explorer (IE) is the default. To configure Creo to use the Chromium-based browser, you must set the value of the windows_browser_type configuration option to chromium_browser before you open a Creo application. To specify the Creo browser to use the embedding engine of the IE browser, you must ensure that the value of the windows_browser_type configuration option is set to the value, ie_browser. The windows_browser_type configuration option is set to ie_browser by default.

To start a Creo application from a different agent with a different browser, you must set the PTC_WF_ROOT environment variable. This variable separates the cache directories and folders, including Windchill cache and the registered servers.

The browser opens a default home page. You can use the web_browser_homepage configuration option to specify other valid URLs or directories and set a different home page for the browser.

You can configure the Creo browser to include the following tabs:

• Creo start page or resource center page—Displays release-specific information such as the What’s New document, various tutorials, the Creo Help Center, global support, Creo events, and Creo community forums. The Resource Center or the Creo welcome page is also available when you click File > Help > Online Resources. You must select the check box, Do not show window again. Display the Resource Center in the Creo Browser when launching. on the Resource Center page to display the Resource Center in the Creo embedded browser when you exit and restart Creo.

• Free 3D CAD models – PARTcommunity—Provides an additional page for parts catalogs where you can search for 3D CAD models and 2D drawings and download them for your use. You can use Creo View to preview the models when found. Is controlled by the enable_partcommunity_tab configuration option that is set to yes by default.

• 3DModelSpace—Lists online catalogs of standard components and is also available as a link in the Online Resources folder in Favorites. You can browse catalogs and view the component details before you select and download the components in Creo. Is controlled by the enable_3dmodelspace_browser_tab configuration option.