Opens the Import Variables dialog to import information about variables and variations from a .csv file and .xlsx file produced either by exporting into the active model or from the old Feature Cells into the active model.

Opens the Export Variables dialog to export information about variables and variations from the active model to a .csv or .xlsx file.

Adds a new local variable or variation.

• New Folder Allows you to place the variables in a folder by copy/paste or drag and drop and/or move an entire folder. Empty folders are not supported, meaning that they will not persist in a DGN file. When a folder becomes empty it will be removed.

• Type - The type of the selected variable. The following types are supported for modeling :
  • Distance - A length quantity, defined in linear working units and displayed as specified in the Design File Settings dialog, Working Units category.
  • Angle - An angular quantity, defined in degrees and displayed as specified in the Design File Settings dialog, Working Units category.
  • Number - A unit-less floating point quantity, such as a scale factor.
  • Integer - A unit-less integer quantity.
  • True/False - A boolean value which can have the value “true” or “false”. Variables of this type can be used to control conditional expressions.
  • Area - An area defined in square of length and displayed using same units as used in Distance.
  • Text - A text string.
  Note: A variable's type controls the types of constraints and properties with which it can be associated. For example, all variables of type Angle will be available in the drop-down list when defining a radius constraint.
• Min & Max - Allows you to set a minimum or maximum value of a variable in its definition properties, which can be accessed from the Variables Dialog. This will help define a safe, allowed range for each variable, making the parametric model more robust.

  Consider, for example, if Min is set to 1 and Max to 8 and an active value of 10 is entered, this will be automatically corrected to 8. Similarly, if you set the value below the minimum defined value, this will be corrected to the Min value.

• Expression - Allows you to use equations to calculate the value of the variable. Expressions may use other variables, conditional statements, arithmetic operations, and various arithmetic and trigonometric functions. The value of a calculated variable cannot be directly edited, but its value will update to reflect changes made to the values of variables referenced within the expression.

  Consider, for example, a simple slab that always has its width as 0.5 times its length, and its height as 0.75 times its width. Then Expressions could be created as follows:

  When, Length=5; then, Width=0.5*Length and Height=0.75*Width

  In this case, the variables would have to be created in the order Length, Width, and Height, as each includes a reference to the previously defined variable. You cannot create an equation that references a nonexistent variable, or which directly or indirectly references the variable to which the equation is assigned. With the above variables applied to the dimensions of the slab, only the value of Length is readily editable, but this would cause changes to the Width and Height also.

  Expression Failure Value - Used to define a safe value that will be applied as active value if there is a mathematical failure value in the Expression used in the same property.

  Expression Driven Variable -

  

  An x icon is displayed against the value of all the variables associated with an expression.
• Scope - Controls whether the value of the variable can be edited when the model is placed as a parametric cell.
  • Instance - A The value of the variable can be edited during or after placement as a parametric cell. For example, when modeling a pipe it would make sense to set the scope of a "Length" variable to Instance as individual pipes tend to differ in length.
  • Definition - The value of the variable cannot be edited during or after placement as a parametric cell. For example, when modeling a pipe you may wish to define several variations such as "2-inch diameter pipe", "4-inch diameter pipe", etc. In this case it would make sense to set the scope of the "Diameter" property to Definition since pipes tend to come in fixed diameters.
• Display - Controls the visibility of the variable when the model is placed as a parametric cell. Typically, intermediate variables which are used to generate geometry but are not considered useful outward properties of the object being modeled should be set as Hidden.
  • Visible - The variable will be visible in the Place Parametric Cell tool settings, and in the Properties dialog when the placed cell is selected.
  • Hidden - The variable will be hidden in the Place Parametric Cell tool settings, and in the Properties dialog when the placed cell is selected.

• Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected local variable.
• Duplicate - Makes a duplicate Copy of the selected local variable.
• Remap References - Substitute another variable for this one wherever it is used in expressions or associated to constraints or properties.
• Delete - Deletes the selected local variable.

• Apply to Model - Applies the variable values of the selected variation set to the model in drawing.
• Rename - Allows you to key in a new name for the selected variation.
• Duplicate - Makes a duplicate Copy of the selected variation.
• Delete - Deletes the selected variation.