topic How to format a dimension in the Parameters? in Inventor Forum

How to format a dimension in the Parameters?

chris — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 02:11:52 GMT

I need to format a dimension in the parameters to be:

Units: Ft

Format: Fractional

Precision: 1/16

but I need it to read with the "inch" marks... even if the inches are (0)

example: 3'-0"

but Inventor is only allowing me to show (3'), it doesn't allow me to show the inches when it's (0), but it will allow the inches if it's anything other than (0)

Re: How to format a dimension in the Parameters?

Xun.Zhang — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 02:47:39 GMT

Hello,

Unfortunately, there is no precision setting for parameter specifically, the only option is trade off the non-meaningful zeros following from dot and the same as fractional in your case, in other words, the trade off for (0) is a limitation so far.

I think you can modify it in partlist as you want to add the (0) back.

Hope it helps!

Re: How to format a dimension in the Parameters?

chris — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 03:02:12 GMT

I actually need it for the description, it's a bit silly that of all my parts that I can automatically have the description created from, these I actually have to "hand type" because of this "limitation"... (Autodesk Inventor, parametrically taking things 98% of the way....) lol

Re: How to format a dimension in the Parameters?

johnsonshiue — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:50:03 GMT

Hi Chris,

I did a quick google search. It seems that our biggest competitor exhibits a similar behavior. This is not an excuse that when our competitor does something one way and INV should do the same. For this case, I suspect it has something to do with how parameter expression is evaluated. Although 3' 0" is a valid expression, when it is evaluated as an equation, it is simply 3' and the 0" vanishes. It is possible to keep the zero technically (in theory, anything is possible). However, it would be special code handling this special case with little return.

It is true that in few workflows, Inventor does not offer associative behaviors. But, this case is not one of them. It is simply the way the parameter is evaluated and how the result is presented.

Many thanks!

Re: How to format a dimension in the Parameters?

chris — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 12:47:14 GMT

Okay, just for the record, I wasn't comparing IV to a competitor... I don't use anything other than IV. We just have "standards" here, so because I can't show this with the (0)" it means I have to "hand type" the dimension for this elbow every time I use it, which is daily on almost all designs. All my other parts work fine, because they are shown in decimal inches, but the client has specified that the elbow be shown in fractional inches.