Introduction

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Prerequisites for using the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.5 Integration Kit
• Installation/Setup
• Overview of System Architecture

Overview

If your task consists of

• Developing add-on applications to Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
• Customizing Creo Elements/Direct Modeling's User Interface

the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit with its documentation here will be the right tool for you.

If offers functionality to

• Create and manage dialogs and user interface controls
• Call Creo Elements/Direct Modeling commands
• Inquiry system and model information
• Attach and manage attributes

embedded in the Common Lisp language.

It also offers functionality for the development investment protection like

• Lisp Compiler to hide application know-how

Prerequisites for using the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.5 Integration Kit

Knowledge

Prerequisites for a successful working with the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit are

• A thorough understanding of Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
• Basic programming experience
• Basic knowledge of the Common Lisp Programming Language

Documentation

In order to develop add-on applications to Creo Elements/Direct Modeling using the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit, you may want to consult the following tools and documentation:

• Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit Documentation
• Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Documentation
  • Online Help delivered with Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
  • Online command reference manual:
    • Call (sd-online-reference) to retrieve the most accurate command syntax
    • Frozen Commands Reference Manual
      NOTE: This manual is no longer maintained and may be outdated over time.
• Common Lisp Documentation, e.g.
  • A Learning Book, e.g.

    Introduction to Common Lisp

    Taiichi Yuasa and Masami Hagiyay
    Academic Press, Inc.
    ISBN 0-12-774860-1

  • A Reference Book, e.g.

    Common LISP: the Language, 2nd Edition

    Guy L. Steele, Jr.
    Digital Press
    ISBN 1-55558-041-6

  • The ME Macro Programmer's Introduction to Lisp in the Appendix
• Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit Training Material

Additional Software

Additional software requirements for using the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit are

• C++ Compiler (optional):
  Microsoft Visual Studio 2022

  Note: You need to set up the right environment variables (PATH, LIB, INCLUDE) to be able to successfully compile LISP code into a DLL.

  The recommended way to do this is as follows:

  1. Open the Visual Studio Command Prompt via:

     64 bit version:

     Start -> Visual Studio 2022 -> Developer Command Prompt for VS202

  2. Run Creo Elements/Direct Modeling from this Command Prompt window:
     e.g.: C:/Program Files/PTC/Creo Elements/Direct Modeling 20.5.4.0/binNT(x64)/SolidDesigner.exe -v
     This guarantees that the necessary environment for compilation is set correctly within Modeling.
  3. Load the LISP file which you want to compile into Creo Elements/Direct Modeling via (load "path-to-file/lisp_file.lsp")
  4. Call (compile-file "path-to-file/lisp_file.lsp")
     For more information on compile-file see here.
  This recommended approach has the advantage that you can have multiple different C++ compilers installed on the same computer without interfering issues in respect to environment variables like PATH, LIB, and INCLUDE.

No extra software is needed besides Creo Elements/Direct Modeling for executing Modeling add-ons created using the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit.

Installation/Setup

The Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit product consists of the following deliverables

• On the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling media
  • All functionality needed to develop and run add-on applications
  • Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit Documentation
  • The Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Lisp Compiler
• In the Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration product
  • Licenses for the Lisp compiler

Overview of System Architecture

The system architecture of Creo Elements/Direct Modeling consists of different levels.

Based on a C++ Kernel, a Common Lisp Interface is the access to the User Interface. Creo Elements/Direct Modeling commands (or Action Routines), dialogs and user interface controls are programmed using the Lisp Level.

The Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Integration Kit provides the access to this Level.

The Integration Kit user may access all Creo Elements/Direct Modeling commands, plus a variety of Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Lisp functions in order to create new commands, dialogs, user interface controls.