Global variables, equations and dimensions

[Anonymous]

I would like to see a feature where you can add global dimensions, equations and variables for your model so that you for example can assign them to your sketch dimensions. When you change the global dimensions, equations or variables it wil be updated througout the model etc. to make easier and faster changes to your model.

[Anonymous]

I think I allready found it.

[schneik-adsk]

GREAT!

[schneik-adsk]

Changing to solution provided, don't want to misrepresent this as implemented based on idea station submission.

[basm_abdrabbo]

Driven Dimensions are not captured in the Parameters window.

[changedsoul]

Is there a work around for Driven Dimentions getting captured?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I don't think this is a solved issue. One of the problems with parameters is that they exist in the same history / undo timeline as all of the other operations. So if you go back in the timeline to a point before the parameter was added, it won't be there to use. If there is a reason that it must be this way (and I can conjecture a few) then perhaps you could simply add a flag in the parameter modify window to indicate whether you're adding "Global" parameters which exist outside of the timeline, versus parameters which are bounded by the timeline.

I have had this particular problem on a number of projects where the idea of various parameters tend to emerge organically from the project being designed. 

[HughesTooling]

If you roll the timeline back all parameter created are available but if you click undo after creating a parameter it is removed. Don't see the undo behaviour as wrong though as you might change a parameter and want it changed back.

Here you can see parameters created after where the timeline pointer is positioned.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Sure, and I thought about that too. The solution for that is easy enough. Let the editor have its own undo/redo stack like any other type of editor would.

Here's another perspective-- if you went to add/edit items in your tools library, you'd expect them to be there and available at any position in your timeline, wouldn't you?

[Anonymous]

I very limited work around is provided by an free add-on "Parameter I/O" that allows parameters to be read and written from/to file.

It will only help with undo, and planning. Write the parameter file, undo, read the parameter file. That way you will still have the

parameters you "undid".

It won't work with the timeline; its a horrid kludge; and Parameter IO is a quick and dirty piece of software with no error handling

that was written to demonstrate the API, and has hung around because its useful.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[jared2HLDX]

Hello moderators, is this still not an option? It's pretty essential to have global variables across an entire project. Any idea when this will be available?

[Phil.E · Accepted solution]

Global parameters are available via Derive.

Workflow

1. Create an empty design
2. Add global parameters to the parameters table
3. Make them all Favorites
4. Save it as Global Parameters

Start a new design

• Use Insert > Derive
• Pick "parameters" option
• Select the Global Parameters design

The global parameters will appear in your design.

Derive Help article

Does this help?

[martin.kudlacek]

Phil, you just saved me from insanity. I was looking for this for some time now. 

Just a tiny little improvement to get this right - when I am typing down the parameter name to some field, it doesn't "autosuggest" it, as with the locally created parameters. I need to know the full name. If that could be fixed, it would make it lot more easy to use.

Thanks,

Martin

[Phil.E]

If named parameters are favorites ⭐ the search function brings them up without the full name.

In a design with derived parameters, they appear in the model parameters area and are not by default favorites.

What is your expectation? That a favorite parameter would also be favorite when it is put into another design using Derive? Glad to hear your thoughts on this.

In the meantime, find the global parameter and make it favorite after inserting it, you should have a better time with it.

[ritste20]

+1 from me on automagically favoriting derived parameters if they are favorited in the source.

Regards,

[Phil.E]

Thanks. I logged an improvement ticket for this inconsistency. 

FUS-84454

[TrippyLighting]

+1 from me as well.

[volkerEF9NS]

Good morning from Germany …

I have tried this solution, and it works - sort of 🙂

Maybe a misunderstanding on my part, therefor two questions:

1. The variables in the second design, that where I did a “insert derive”, have been renamed and are suffixed with “_Ref”.  Can this suffix be altered or, better yet, suppressed altogether?
2. when the Parameters in the first design are modified and the design is saved, they are not automagically altered in the second design, instead I need to push a button the initiate a refresh.  Is this how it is supposed to be?

with best regards

Volker Bandke

[TrippyLighting]

No.

Yes.