Global parameters for all project

[Anonymous]

Hello, Add please the field where it is possible to enter parameters for all project. New details will be able to take these parameters and to add own parameters to the global list.

P.S.

add this text to the reference in a window what information would always be near at hand:

http://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-76272551-3275-46C4-AE4D-10D58B408C20

[tyler_henderson]

I assume you are asking for Parameters that can be shared across all designs in a Project and those parameters would be used to drive certain details of each design.  Is this correct?  Would this be similar to Top-Down Design where a Master model contains the high-level dimensions/parameters and then the Master is referenced in the detail designs?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Present that you design the CNC machine. You take working area 600 mm by 400 of mm. You do many details of different length for the machine. Very conveniently when each detail has the file. All details have dependence on the sizes of working area. After you do assembly of details. And then to you the friend comes and speaks "cool, you did a lot of work, but let's make working area 900 mm by 600 of mm". And you need to come into each file (50-100 design) and to change values of each detail (600->900, 400->600). It isn't convenient. And if you have "The master list" where it is just possible to set A=600, B=900. And all details have the reference to these values. When you change basic value, all details are automatically updated under your global parameters. Having changed only two values, you can change all machine!

when you do parameter global, in new design or old, you can have a problem of coincidence of names of these parameters in already available details. It is possible to give the global prefix, or "gl", or "@". lengthX=900 -> make global -> @lengthX=900. If you already have a "lenghtX" parameter in other designs, then you will have no problems with coincidence of names. Or fusion360 has to make behind coincidence of names of parameters and suggest to rename them and all mentions in dependences.

thanks

[tyler_henderson]

Great, thanks for the additional details, it makes perfect sense.  One other question: Since these Global Parameters are related to a project, would you want to be able to define these parameters at the time you create a new Project (like maybe in A360), and then have these parameters automatically copied into each new design?  Or would you want to be able to choose which new designs receive the Global Parameters on a case-by-case basis?

[Anonymous]

Good question. Let's present the following situations:
1) You have 50 global parameters and you create new design. It isn't convenient to add each global parameter separately.
2) You have 50 global parameters and you create new design. All global parameters already are also you can curtail them that they weren't stirred. There will be no visual porridge. Conveniently.
3) You have 50 designs and you create new global parameter. It isn't convenient to come into each design separately.
4) You have 50 designs and you create new global parameter. It automatically is in each old design, but the name unique and isn't present problems. And there is an interesting moment.

For example, you have models of chess. 50 designs which did at different times. Perhaps different people. Each design has 2 local parameters - "chess_height=?" and "chess_diameter=?". You were defined what size of a chessboard and figures is necessary to you. You create 2 global parameters "@height=45" and "@diameter=30". But now you need to come into each necessary design and to set communications old the local parameters to new global parameters. Further I see the following picture:
1) You press the button "set local parameters" and in a window write "chess_height= @height", "chess_diameter= @diameter"

2) Fusion360 asks to what designs you want to apply new rules.
3) You note those designs which are necessary to you. Or you note all folder with designs at once. Fusion360 helps you not to make a mistake and marks in green color those designs where there is already a local parameter with such name and yellow color those designs where there is no local parameter with such name. You press "OK"
4) Fusion360 comes into each necessary design and changes value of local parameters, there where they are, or adds these values where they weren't. Glory of automation of processes!

I draw such conclusion:
1) it is necessary that global parameter automatically was both in old designs and in new designs.
2) an opportunity to clean the huge list of global parameters under a spoiler is necessary
3) an opportunity to change communications of local parameters at once in several designs is necessary
4) Fusion360 has to prompt in what designs there is already a local parameter which you want to change and in what isn't present

[tyler_henderson]

Ok, thanks.  This is clear now, and I can certainly see the value.  We will take this into consideration for some improvements we are planning.

Best regards,

[Anonymous]

Are there some upgrades made corresponding to global variables/parameters usage since 6-14-2017?

[tyler_henderson]

No updates have been released yet, but we should have something available later this year.

[Anonymous]

I believe in you.

[Anonymous]

Well, I have a wooden box design made of several (5) types of laths. I made it as an assembly file with external references to single-component lath files with different lengths.

I would like to be able to change outer dimension of this box just by changing three global parameters: box_length, box_width and box_depth.

Now, as I see, it is not possible, so it would be better to make assembly without external components.

The laths are originally defined in the assembly file, then exported (I didn't know situation with global variables), so they already ARE defined by the variables named box_width, box_length and box_height.

Question: which is the easiest way to convert all these externally referenced laths (cca 30 pieces, 4 types) in the assembly file to internal components (so I will be able to use ONE variable in all their's definitions).

Thanks in advance,

Toni

[tyler_henderson]

Hi Toni,

One way to do this is to assemble all of your laths in one design, then use Break Link (right-click on each of the lath external references).  This will create a local component for each lath in your assembly design.

[Anonymous]

Huh, I tried this way but it really creates 50 separated lath components, each of them with it's own paramaters.

I would like to have 5 separated components with many instances.

For example, if I have 10 instances of an externally referenced component in a design, is it possible to make this component definition local, to import it somehow, so to let these instances to stay just instances, not to import each of them separately and converting them into independent components (by breaking the link)?

[tyler_henderson]

I'm sorry, Toni, there is no way to do that currently.  You would need to break the link on the 5 main components, and then re-instance them manually.

[samgaddis]

+1 for global parameters. Could really make use of this for all the reasons described above. 

[daniel]

I'd love this feature. Quite often when you're putting together a large project, you want to break it into multiple files so that they can be worked on simultaneously or to improve performance. Does Autodesk still have plans to implement this feature?

[tyler_henderson]

Hi folks,

We have not formally implemented "global parameters", however; the new Derive capabilities may be a big step in this direction.  If you have not tried it yet, you should.  You can create a "master" design with all of the user parameters you may need in your designs.  You'll want to make sure you "favorite" all of the parameters.  Then you can Derive from that master design into any new or existing design.  You don't have to derive geometry, you can just derive parameters if you want.  Then you can use those parameters in the target designs for creating sketches and features.  Then you can modify a parameter in the master design and have the new value propagate to all of the target designs where the parameter is used.  One thing to note: In the target design, the derived parameters don't automatically get tagged as Favorites, so they will not automatically appear when you start typing them for a dimension.  I suggest you mark them as Favorites in the Target designs as well.  We're working on improving this.  Anyway, I know this is not a full-blown Global Parameters solution, but I hope you can find it useful.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

Hi Tyler,

Is it included in the actual update?

I have tried what you had described, but after I have made some parameters favorite I don't know how to derive them to another design. (also, there is no messages about failed F360 update).

How to derive parameters to another design?

Thx in Advance

[tyler_henderson]

Hi arosovic,

Yes, it has been available for a few updates. Your Design must be capturing history, it doesn't work with Direct Models because there are no Parameters.

The "Derive" command is located on the Create panel.  At the bottom of the Derive dialog there is a Parameters section.  Expand it and check the box "Favorites".  Then click Ok.  A new Design will be created and the Favorite Parameters from the Source Design will appear in the Parameters list of the Target Design.

Let me know if you still have trouble.

Regards,

[Anonymous]

PROJECT PARAMETERS

I have NO CLUE why of ALL COMPANIES autodesk cannot do as shown on the initial example and create a Parameter Button in the left side Project window, and add a project parameter button.  Stop slapping on friggin' band-aids and just allow us to control from the project window.

We DON'T want 800 components created in a friggin' file or whatever other clumsy, convoluted crap-shoot has been taking place.

1.) One New File (or import) allows for ONE COMPONENT

2.) The Components are adjusted and designed individually

3.) Project Parameters allowable for ALL design files within the project

4.) Drag and Drop EACH component into final project file to assemble, test for adjustments, etc.

CLEAN

EFFICIENT

EFFECTIVE

Regarding "Global Parameters", I am not sure how many people need Global/ALL around parameters which will work for each and every single file.... That could cause a lot of linkage headaches in the future across the A360 cloud, i'd imagine.  Unless a ton of people ONLY works within a specific scope or area... ever.  And, if that's the case, it's PROBABLY for professional use with companies which are purchasing solutions anyway.

  But, for "Projects", this should be MORE than reasonable.

Thank you for your consideration.

[Anonymous]

sekrit_skworl - This is exactly what is needed. It seems like a natural extension of the workflow and I'm also surprised to see that it's not possible. Pleas, please, please add this.