Linked sketches with sketch-local parameters

[strixner]

Hi! I would like to use several variants of a sketch in my design but still be able to globally change aspects of all these sketches in one go.
Thus it would be good to have a sketch with local parameters from which I could create linked copies with individual per-copy values of a number of sketch-local parameters that appear in the calculations of the constraints inside this sketch.

So, like a function in a programming language that I can call several times with different parameters.

Is that possible?

[laughingcreek]

this sounds like a job for configurations. (only available with paid and educational accounts)

[strixner]

Thanks @laughingcreek, will play around with this. Would be more optimal if I could set the parameters on the usage place instead of having to foresee all possible usages and create configurations for them - but it's a possibility!

[strixner]

I experimented with configurations and the derive feature. The first doesn't seem to offer the ability to create several linked copies - I can only change the configuration for the one instance where I created the configurations for. And if I copy the sketch it is not linked anymore to the original.
With derive I can create linked copies (in another document) but I don't seem to be able to choose different configurations for different copies of the object - if I change the configuration in the original document it changes for all linked copies.

So - any other ideas?

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

To use several instances of a configured component in another design, you need to insert several instances of the configured component into that design. Each time you insert an instance, you'll be asked to pick which configuration. You can switch the configuration after insertion as well. 

[strixner]

Thanks @TrippyLighting for the feedback. I don't get that to work. What I did:

* I created a sketch sketch1 in a Design1 with two configurations config1 and config2 and saved it

* I used "derive" to create a linked copy of sketch1 (new design, Derive objects, parameters "favorites" and "from components" checked

Now I see a linked copy in the new document. I wasn't asked which configuration this should have though. And when I go to configurations of the linked copy I don't see config1 and config2 as choices, just a new, empty configuration.
I can add another copy via derive, existing design but I am again not asked which configuration I want and again I don't see the configurations config1 and config2, just a new empty one.

The linking works though, if I change or reparameterize the original sketch the copies change. But they are always identical - not what I want.
How could I make this work?

[strixner]

Ah ok, I can change the configuration in the original and then use derive. Then this config seems to be bound to the new clone. But (how) can I change the config afterwards without deleting and re-cloning?

[strixner]

Ok, I apparently cannot reassign another configuration without deleting and recloning. But I can change the parameters of the assigned configuration in the original, then only the clone that was created when this configuration was activated gets updated. Think that is good enough for me, thanks a lot!

[TrippyLighting]

Derive and Configurations don't currently work together. 

If you can share the design and explain the overall goal of what you are trying to achieve I can provide better feedback.