Parameters Manager - Block Editor

Quick Reference

See Also

Work With Constraint Parameters in Blocks

Controls the associative parameters used in the Block Editor.

Access Methods

Button

Ribbon: Block Editor tab

Manage panel

Parameters Manager

Command entry: parameters

Summary

In the Block Editor, the Parameters Manager displays a consolidated view of all parameters and user-defined properties for the block definition.

The Parameters Manager palette includes a grid control with three columns (Name, Expression, Value) by default. You can add one or more additional columns (Type, Order, Show, or Description) using the shortcut menu.

Column	Description
Name	Displays the variable name
Expression	Displays the real number or equation, for example, d1+d2
Value	Displays the value of the expression
Additional Columns
Type	Displays the dimensional constraint type or variable value
Order	Controls the order properties are displayed in the Properties palette
Show	Displays the parameter as a property of the block reference
Description	Displays the comments or notes associated with the user variable

The Type column affects the formatting of the parameter in the Parameters Manager and Properties palette. It also affects the value of the parameter when the block is scaled.

Type	Units	Precision	Block Scale Factor
Distance	LUNITS	LUPREC	Scaled by scale factor
Angle	AUNITS	AUPREC	No scale
Real	Decimal	LUPREC	No scale
Area	Decimal	LUPREC	Multiplied by square of scale
Volume	Decimal	LUPREC	Multiplied by cube of scale
String	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

The Type cell for User parameters displays a drop-down list of the value types. The parameter can be sorted and can be set to Show or Hide in the Properties palette. The value of the parameter resets to 1 when you change the type from String to another type.

Parameters can be renamed; equations and values can be entered or modified. Changes to a parameter name are immediately updated throughout the table and in the Block Editor.

The parameters for the block definition are organized in the following categories:

Action Parameters
Dimensional Constraint Parameters
Reference Parameters
User Parameters
Attributes

You can only add user parameters to the table. When you delete any item from the table, the item is automatically deleted from the block definition.

Create a Dimensional Variable

To create a dimensional variable, you apply a dimensional constraint to an object in the Block Editor. Dimensional variables are displayed under the Dimensional Constraint Parameters group header in the Parameters Manager palette.

User variables are custom variables that create and drive object relationships. These variables can contain constants, or equations.

Click the New User Parameter icon on the Parameters Manager palette to create a user variable. Alternatively, double-click an empty cell to create a user-defined variable.

User variables have the following characteristics:

Default values are: Name = user1, Expression = 1, and value = 1.00.
Name should be alphanumeric.
Expression values should be within the range of -1e100 and 1e100.

Edit a Dimensional Variable

You can edit the dimensional variable name and expression. To do so:

Double-click the name or expression box.
Select the row and press F2. Press the Tab key to edit the contiguous columns.
You cannot edit the Value column.

When you rename a dimensional variable, all instances of the variable are updated in the drawing and in the Parameters Manager palette.

Invalid expressions are displayed in red text.

Delete a Dimensional Variable

The following are the current behavioral changes in the drawing when you delete a dimension variable:

The associated dimensional constraint in the drawing is removed.
The variables retain the value calculated by the expression as a constant. This action is for variables referenced by other variables, and ensures that the geometry does not change.

Filtering the Display of Variables

You can filter the display of variables to do the following:

Display All Parameters — Displays all associative variables. No filter is applied.
Display Parameters Used in Expressions - Displays all variables that contain expressions to evaluate a value, and variables contained in expressions.

Sorting a Column

The sort order is not affected when you change a cell value.

Searching a Parameter

An edit box in the upper-right corner of the Parameters Manager allows you to search for parameters by name.

Shortcut Menu Options

The following options are displayed on the shortcut menus in the Parameters Manager palette.

Column Header Shortcut Menu
Expression	Displays or hides the Expression column.
Value	Displays or hides the Value column.
Type	Displays or hides the Type column.
Show	Displays or hides the Show column. The Show property can be set for dimensional constraint parameters and user parameters created in the Block Editor only. This property is read-only and is set to No for dimensional contraint parameters and user parameters which are created in the drawing editor.
Order	Displays or hides the Order column.
Description	Displays or hides the Description column.
Maximize All Columns	Displays all columns using the maximum value in each column as the base.
Row Shortcut Menu
Delete Parameter	Deletes the selected parameters from the drawing and the Parameters Manager.
Convert Parameter	Converts dimensional constraints and user parameters to constraint parameters and user parameters.
Cell Shortcut Menu
Cut	Removes the value from the cell and pastes it to the clipboard.
Copy	Copies the value in the cell and pastes it to the clipboard.
Paste	Pastes the immediately transferred value from the clipboard.
Delete	Deletes the value from the cell based on the selection.
Expressions	Displays a list of functions for use in the expression column (available only within the Expression cell)