How to Change Units in Creo

Start Creo Parametric

Launch Creo Parametric from your desktop or start menu and wait for the application to fully load before proceeding.

Choose a different template for a single part (optional)

If you only need to change units for one part rather than every new file, you can select a different template manually:

• Click the File menu and select New.
• In the New dialog, choose Part as the type and Solid as the sub-type.
• Uncheck Use default template, then click OK to open the template selection dialog.
• In the New File Options dialog, select a metric template, such as mmns_part_solid (millimeters, newtons, seconds).

Open the Configuration Editor to change the default template

To make metric units the default for all new parts, update the configuration settings instead of selecting a template manually each time:

• Go to File > Options > Configuration Editor.
• Locate the template setting named template_solidpart.
• You will change this value to the desired metric template, such as mmns_part_solid.

Review the available template settings

On a fresh installation with a new configuration file, the Configuration Editor lists several template settings, each pointing to a file path on your local machine:

• template_boardpart
• template_designasm
• template_drawing
• template_new_ecad.asm
• template_sheetmetalpart
• template_solidpart

These templates are copied into new parts or assemblies when you create them; they are not modified directly by editing this list.

Locate the templates folder

Open the file selection dialog and navigate toward your Creo installation directory to find the templates folder. The exact path depends on where Creo was installed on your system, so adjust the navigation if your installation location differs.

Set the solid part template to MMKS

Within the templates folder of your Creo installation directory, locate and select the file named solid_part_mmks.prt. This template uses millimeters, kilograms, and seconds as the default units.

• Click Open to confirm your selection.
• The template_solidpart setting in the Configuration Editor now shows the new file path, with an asterisk (*) indicating the change is pending save.

Set the assembly template to MMKS

Repeat the process for assemblies:

• In the Configuration Editor, locate the template_designasm setting.
• Click Browse next to the template path.
• In the file dialog, select mmks_asm_design.asm, the assembly template using millimeters, kilograms, and seconds.
• Click Open to confirm your selection.

Creo remembers the last template folder you used, which makes it easier to locate the correct file for the assembly template.

Save the updated configuration

To apply your changes permanently:

• In the Configuration Editor, click the Import/Export dropdown at the bottom right.
• Select Export per current filter to save your changes.
• When prompted, overwrite the existing config.pro file to apply the new template settings.
• Click OK to close the Configuration Editor.

Verify the new default units in a new part

Confirm that the configuration change took effect:

• Create a new part in Creo by selecting New Part and using the default part option.
• Go to File > Prepare > Model Properties.
• Confirm that the units are now set to millimeter, kilogram, second (mmKs) instead of inches and pounds.

Confirm the new template is active in the workspace

In the main modeling window, check that the new part file (PRT0001.PRT) displays the default coordinate system (DEFAULT_CSYS) and standard reference planes (RIGHT, TOP, FRONT) in the Model Tree on the left. The geometric center and reference planes should be visible in the main view area, confirming successful template application.

Check the status bar at the bottom of the window for a confirmation message similar to:

Using the template default C:\Program Files\PTC\Creo 3.0\M080\Common Files\templates\solid_part_mmks.prt as the template.

This confirms that the interface is ready for further modeling and that all previous configuration steps were applied correctly.