Parmetrized project design (Part 2)

[GoranBe]

Hello,

this post is somehow realted to my previous post "Parmetrized project design (Part 1)". Please see that post for details including link to source files.

In short, I'm having a "base parameter" no-part part file (namely "TheBoxParameters.ipt") with exported custom parameters that drive the project.  I'd like to define a custom text parameter(s) in this file which will be used later in drawing files (idw) as a custom posftix to a common paramater in the table.

For example, let's say I will define custom strings paramaters TitlePostfix = "500 x 500" and "PartNumberPostfix = "-2019-1" in base parameter file. I would like to reflect those in table cells of "derived" parts eg in text defined by: 

<TITLE><TitlePostfix>

<PART NUMBER><PartNumberPostfix>

But I can't.  I don't see custom text parameters in FormatText dialog at all. AFAIK text parameters can't be exportd or I don't know how to export them. If I'd be able to export text I'd be able to select it from "Custom Properties - Model" parameters pulldown.

Any ideas how to do it?

Regards,

Goran

[blandb]

Can you not use Ilogic to pass this information to a custom iProperty?

[GoranBe]

Hi,

I don't think I can use iLogic either.  AFAIK I can't reach text parameter from linked part file regradless if I try to use it from iLogic or not.

I could write iLogic that looks for text in some other file or something similar of course. But at the end all I need is an exported text paramater. If somebody confirms that this is impossible I will use exported numerical parameters instead. It just gives me lesss freeedom in customization of the specialisation of parametrized project.

Regards,

Goran

[johnsonshiue · Accepted solution]

Hi! iLogic rule works. You can simply retrieve or set a parameter from another part within a part.

For example, you have a text parameter called "VENDOR" in PartA. You would like to retrieve it in PartB. Here is what you need to do.

1) Link or derive PartA to PartB.

2) Create a text parameter in PartB also called "VENDOR"

3) Write the following rule.

VENDOR = Parameter("PartA.ipt","VENDOR")

You can get the text from PartA to PartB. You can also set the value to the one in PartA.

Many thanks!

[GoranBe]

Johnson,

thank you very much for your answer.  I will try it in following days. I will accept your answer as solution though in my opinion is more a workaround actually.

If you know, can you please explain why text parameters can't be exported? It would be *much* simpler to use text parameter directly than to copy stright-forward iLogic to every single file where I need the text from the "base" file. I will create templates, for sure, but it stil seems kind of limiting and, khm, unnecessary...

Regards,

Goran

[Cadderman]

VENDOR = Parameter("PartA.ipt","VENDOR")

@johnsonshiue This code is great for models that aren't being copied as it specifies the filename.  Is there a way to sit this code in a template that would undergo a complete copy design with new filenames?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I suspect Inventor API calls might be needed here to work within a template. I am not sure. Please feel free to post the question on Inventor iLogic, API, and VBA forum. The experts there could take a look and propose some solutions.

Many thanks!

[BDCollett]

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@Cadderman wrote:

VENDOR = Parameter("PartA.ipt","VENDOR")

@johnsonshiue This code is great for models that aren't being copied as it specifies the filename.  Is there a way to sit this code in a template that would undergo a complete copy design with new filenames?

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I always make the code link to the part in the browser, instead of PartA:1 you rename to PartA, this will be the same in every copied part and the rule will work.