You can retrieve a cutting tool or a set of cutting tools with its parameters and use the same parameters in a different manufacturing process. You need not set them up from scratch. Use the File > Open Parameter File command in the Tools Setup dialog box to retrieve a tool or multiple tools. You can also use the File > Open Tool Library command in the Tools Setup dialog box to retrieve one or more tools.

If a cutting tool with the same name as the one being retrieved exists in a workcell, you cannot replace the tool if it is of a different type and has different tool parameters. However, if the tool differs only by its offset definition, you are prompted to confirm the replacement. If you are retrieving older tools, parameters are updated with current parameters and an appropriate message is displayed.

The default extension for the tool parameter files was .tprm in releases prior to Pro/ENGINEER Release 12.0 and .tpm in releases prior to Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0. Old files with these extensions are recognized and can be retrieved in Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0.

However, a tool parameter file modified or created using Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 4.0 is saved only with the .xml extension.