Managing Parameters from the Drawing

The Parameters palette lets you view and modify Dimensional Constraints parameters from the current drawing.

You can define, modify, rename, and delete constraint expressions and variables.

To display the Parameters Manager palette:

  • Click Constraints > Parameters Manager (or type Parameters).

To create a dimensional constraint parameter

  • In the graphics area, apply a dimensional constraint to an entity of the drawing.

    In the Parameters palette, the dimensional constraint parameter appears under the Dimensional Constraint Parameters category.

To create user-defined variables:

  1. On the Parameters palette, click New user parameter dc_new_variable .

    Under User-defined, a new entry appears.

  2. If necessary, in Name, edit the variable name.

  3. In Expression, type a value or an expression.

    The value that results from the expression displays in Value.

To delete Dimensional Constraints or user variables:

  1. On the Parameters list, click a Dimensional Constraint or a user-defined variable.

  2. Click Delete user parameter dc_delete_variable .

    tip Alternatively, you can right-click the variable and select Delete Parameter from the context menu.

    If the variable is referenced by a Dimensional Constraint in the drawing or in an expression, you are prompted to confirm deletion.

To change names of Dimensional Constraints or user variables:

  1. In the Parameters list, click a Dimensional Constraint or a user-defined variable.

  2. Edit the name.

  3. Press Enter or click elsewhere.

To edit expressions of a Dimensional Constraints or user variables:

  1. In the Parameters list, select a Dimensional Constraint expression or a user-defined variable expression and then click.

  2. Edit the expression with operators, functions, variables and values.

    Use the shortcut menu to insert a function: Right-click, click Functions, then select a function.

  3. Press Enter or click elsewhere.

The Parameter Palette

Toolbar

dc_new_variable

Creates a new user-defined parameter

dc_delete_variable

Deletes the selected parameter from the list

Filters

Lets you filter the display of user-defined variables in the list:

  • All: Displays all user-defined variables.

  • Used in expressions: Displays only the user-defined variables used in expressions.

  • Unused in expressions: Displays only the user-defined variables not used in expressions. Right-click, then click Delete Parameter to remove unused variables from the list.

Search for a Parameter

Lets you search parameters by their name. Type the name of the parameter in the search box and press Enter.

Parameters List

In the list, parameters are grouped in the following categories:

  • Dimensional constraints defined in the graphics area

  • User-defined variables

The list header columns represents the properties of the parameters.

By default, the Parameters palette lists:

  • Names of the Dimensional Constraints,

  • Expressions

  • Values that result from the expression

Additional columns include:

  • Type Displays the type of the dimensional constraint or variable value

  • Description Displays the notes associated with the user variable

To show or hide columns, right-click the list header and use the context menu to display the desired columns in the list.

Clicking a column head sorts the parameters in an ascending or descending order.

At any moment, you can resize columns or move them to another position.

Use the Maximize All Columns option to display all columns using the maximum value in each column as the base.

For detailed information about using expressions and variables, see Defining Dimensional Constraints Parameters.

Cell Context Menu

When editing a value, right-clicking a cell displays a context menu with the following options:

  • Undo. Removes the previous text editing.

  • Redo. Restores the state prior to issuing Undo.

  • Cut. Removes the highlighted text and copies the text 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.

  • Select All. Selects the entire text from the cell.

  • Expressions. Displays a list of functions for use in the expression column. This option is available only within the Expression cell.

Access

Command: Parameters

Menu: Constraints > Parameters Manager

Ribbon: Constraints > Manage > Parameters Manager

Related Topics

Hiding the Parameters palette

Defining Dimensional Constraints Parameters

Working with Constraints

Parent Topic

Applying Dimensional Constraints