Is there a way to expand the constraint window so that I can see my entire parameter formula? In the image below, my equation is cut off in the "offset" window. Or am I supposed to be inputting the parameters in some other manner?
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Solved by 4donwan4. Go to Solution.
Can you create a named parameter with a short name and make it equal to the equation you entered?
Then you would only need to enter the short name. (or click the arrow at the end of the box and select Show Parameters and then select it from list of user named parameters.
Thanks for the reply. I take it there is no way to expand the constraint dialog box. That's really what I want to do and I wanted to make sure there isn't a way to do it before I post about it in the Inventor IdeaStaition. Maybe it's me but I run into this all the time...Even if you use shorter names, if you put 3 or 4 parameters in, it's impossible to see them all.
No, there's really no way to expand that box, but there is a workaround. You could try this (which is what I do when a formula is too long to work with in a dialog box):
Name the parameter and give it a temporary value in the constraint dialog box by typing it in using the "Equal" shortcut.
ex. "WIDTH = 5 in"
This is so you will be able to recognize the parameter easily in the next step.
Then open up the Parameters dialog box (on the Manage tab), and write your formula in there, replacing the temporary number you gave it earlier. This dialog box typically has larger columns for the formula than the normal command dialog boxes to begin with, AND can be resized to be even larger.
Thanks for the reply. I can see that working well for model parameters but I use a lot of User parameters that are established before I even start a sketch. I abbreviate as much as I can but that darn window is so small. I don't see why they can't make it expandable.
Not sure I'm following how User Parameters would be a problem for this method - this is the same dialog box where you would have created them, so it should work fine for them, unless I'm missing something about what you're doing. They should all be listed in the User Parameters section toward the bottom of the Parameters dialog box.
Having that box be expandable into a larger equation-editing box wouldn't be a bad thing though. Could even be as simple as just taking you directly to the Parameters dialog box with the relevant row highlighted.
You can always set up a part template with the common parameters (formula) in the template.
This is by designed within the product I think. If you would like to enter a wish list item asking for this to be considered as an enhancement please use the following link.
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1109794
Submit the possibility to expand this dialog box like any other windows ones.
Don
Thank you Don.
I have submitted this exact scenario as a wishlist item at least 5 times in the past and nothing comes of it. It's not only the constraint dialog box, have you ever tried to do a pack & go? An assembly may have 100 parts or more but the bottom dialog lets you see 4 of them at a time, really handy, not!
I think Autodesk should employ a consultant who actually uses the software on a daily basis to give some real-world advice on making this program properly user friendly.
The last 3 releases have provided more and more eye-candy, which does not make the program any better from a designer's point of view, and all the important fixes are being left by the wayside.
Autodesk, it's time to stop fighting the eye-candy war against your competitors and give the end user some improvements which make their day to day jobs better and easier.
Disappointing to hear that nothing has come of your suggestions. It seems like such an easy fix to make dialog boxes expandable.
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