Pattern on path not accepting user parameters

[Anonymous]

I have been trying to create a pattern of bodies along a path and have it driven by user parameters. But it highlights the parameter in red and will not accept it. I have tried typing in the same number manually and it works just fine. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Sorry that this got posted twice. I clicked "Post" and it came up with an error so I put in a couple tags and it accepted it and then I saw that it was posted twice. If there is a way I can delete it please let me know.

[cokopp]

Hello,

I used pattern on path with user parameters lately and didn't had any problem.

I start typing the parameter name, the "pop-up menu" appea and show me the parameter(s) ... i click one or finish typing the full name.

It indeed show in red for a little while but then switch to black and let me validate it (or maybe you have to hit the space key after the parameter name, i'm not sure anymore)

not really sure it helps, 

but that is how it works for me.

cheers !

[Anonymous]

Thats what I tried. I let it sit for 30 seconds and it didn't turn black. Thanks for the response though!

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

This sounds link units mismatch, if your parameter is unitless you will have to multiply it by 1mm or 1In, if the parameter is a length like 10mm and you want to use it as a count you'll have to divivde by 1mm something like Lenght / 1mm to make it unitless.

Mark

[jeff_strater]

good catch, @HughesTooling, I suspect that is the problem.  The issue is that the distance along a path is a length, which requires a length unit, and the count is unitless, which requires it not be a length.  So either multiplying by a length or dividing by a length should fix the problem.  If you can provide a screencast of what you are seeing, including your current parameter dialog, we can verify this.

Jeff

[Anonymous]

That was a great catch! That's exactly what was happening and makes so much sense now. Thank you for your help!

[jeffwPP4JQ]

Well, that is not what is happening for me. My count in the Fx parameters dialog shows as unitless and the parameter I am using as the distance shows as "mm" unit. Yet, both of these show up red and stay red when typed into a pattern.

Even when I start typing the parameter name in the Quantity and Distance boxes the suggestions show as the expected units.

I'm getting red on parameters for patterns and it has nothing to do with mismatched units. They compute correctly and do not show up as red in the parameters. If I fake different parameters and use integers instead of equations in the parameters it works fine.

It appears to me that you can't use parameters that are based on equations. Two pictures for "proof".

[jeffwPP4JQ]

Additionally... It seems you can't reference any driven dimensions in anything that the pattern uses. 

[jeffwPP4JQ]

More proof...

If I reference a non-driven dimension everything is fine...

If I reference a driven dimension, it doesn't work in a pattern.

[jhackney1972]

Just to clarify, Driven Dimensions cannot be used for any parameter outside the "sketch" they are a part of.  It has nothing to do with patterns or any other command.

[jeffwPP4JQ]

Oh... that's just incredibly stupid. I'll just add that little "rule" to the huge bag of dumb implementation quirks Fusion 360 forces you to work around.