spreadsheet shared between files and custom shared parameter files
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Subscribe to RSS Feed
- Permalink
- Report
Fusion360 - I need to share common parameters across multiple files in the project. The parameters are currently only stored in the active file. It would be great ot be able to define a spredsheet of parameters by name and import it by reference to the active part. That way I could re-use the same defenitions between parts. Since many parts are imported as components in many assemblies this would improve the work flow.
In addition a drag and drop ability to move a paramter from the open file and one of the shared parameter sets would be very useful so when you discover the same parameter is needed in multiple parts it is easy to move the defenitions it would be great.
It woudl be helpful if I could define the parameters in the form of a INI file. The names in between [] such as [spars] is a name space convention so evertying under them to the next [] value is treated as a child variable such as spars.thick. Ultimate use would be to have these export to a text edit window with one click and an ability to edit in text format to re-import. Ultimately I would like to use these for other project aspects that are managed outside of fusion 360. It woudl be best if these files were referenced by name. It woudl also be ideal to parse once to set all the simple scalar values and then parse a send time after all referenced files are imported that calcualtes the values for the formula based on all symbols currently defined. Any duplicate assignments simply use the most recent. I want to be able to change the referenced set of parameters and have it reflow the document based on the new settings. Then get back to the original by changing the reference again. EG:
[base_unit]
height=99
width=27
height=18
[spars]
thick=10
shell_thick=4
width=27
A JSON represention would be OK but the INI file format is easier to edit and is well understood since it has been in use for over 20 years.
It would be helpful to be able to have the parameter edit form open and updated as other drawing steps are completed. I am finding that I must cut and paste the custom parameters with a screen copy into paint to see them when entering parameters. This is just silly and is most likely a common frustration. Some intellisense on entering parameter names in formula would also help.
The ability define names such as vert_support_spar.height woudl be usesful. This is a common namespacing technique used in a variety of prormamin languages.
When you have a lot of parameters that are discovered during the modeling process it would be helpful to have them be presented in an order other than the order they are created. At the very least there should be an option to sort them alphabetically. A preferred approach would be to organize them specifically.
