Renaming embedded Excel parameters without loosing connection to dimensions

[Anonymous]

Hi.

I have several models that rely on 100+ parameters. All of these parameters come from an embedded Excel sheet, meaning that they are "grayed out" in the Inventor parameters interface.

I'm in a situation now where I have to rename most of these parameters. If I rename them in the Excel sheet, Inventor will create "yellowed out" artifacts of the old names that will still be used for model dimensions. The renamed parameters from the Excel sheet are regarded by Inventor as new, and will not have any connection to the model dimensions. This forces me to reenter every singe dimension in the model.

Question: Is there a way to rename the parameters (preferably in Excel) while keeping them connected to the model dimensions?

Your help would be greatly appreciated. It would save me from many days of utterly mindless clicking.

Thanks in advance.

Inventor professional 2017.

[asiteur · Accepted solution]

Hi,

How about exporting to XML, do a find and replace and then loading the XML back in?

Especially when you just do something like oldname_suffix this is quite simple

[Anonymous]

Hi asiteur.

I tried your idea and it's a step in the right direction, but it did not solve it.

What happened when I imported the XML back in (after find and replace) was that the renamed parameters were added to "User parameters". All except a few (how?) of them now control the model dimensions while the embedded Excel parameters do nothing.

I still need the model dimensions to follow the embedded Excel.

I'm new to messing with the XML so maybe I'm missing something.

[Anonymous]

Your solution worked! It was just a matter of first changing the embedded Excel.

[helpdesk]

I was about to suggest that indeed.

Good to hear it solved your problem!

[mailswamp]

How do I find and replace parameters in a whole assembly, where some parts may use the parameter, some don't.

Do I go into every part by hand?

Ctrl+F does not find names of the parameters that were used in sketches and other operations.

Thank you.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Maybe iLogic rule can help you identify the parameters. You could create a rule at the assembly level and then capture all current parameters in individual parts and subassemblies. You will get the list of all parameter names and values.

Many thanks!

[mailswamp]

I am not sure how to use I Logic.

It uses a very confusing scripting language that is not very well documented.

(I avoid I-logic and use Excel's programming language instead.)

Is there a sample script to do find-and-replace for the whole assembly.

Is there a find and replace that works on the assembly level?

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I think @asiteur offers the best solution here. For iLogic rule, you need to go to Manage tab -> Add Rule -> find Model tab in the Edit Rule dialog -> expand each component and right-click on the Linked Parameters -> Capture Current Status. All the linked parameters in a given part will be added to the rule and you can see which parameter name needs to be changed.

Many thanks!

[mailswamp]

When I run this

I get this error message.

I can add or remove SyntaxEditor Code Snippet

Component.IsActive("NEW Clamp Base-03:3") = True

It makes no difference. I still get an error message

I am trying to change Link_Uni_Width to Link_Uni_Thickness in every part where this file was used.

I can do it by hand the stupid way. Yet I want to learn how to do it the smart way.

Thank you.

[mikko.m]

Is there a way to rename linked excel parameters?

---

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! Linked parameters are totally driven by the source (ipt, iam, and Excel spreadsheet). The names and values can only be changed at the source.

Many thanks!

[mikko.m]

If I change the parameter name in excel, it shows the parameter in yellow
in the inventor.