Global Equation / Dimension / Parameter Editor
Global parameters support built inside Alibre.
To give possibility to change many parts and assemblies parameters from one editor. Update button to execute changes and refresh the model.
I know there is many ways to achieve this, but spreadsheet connections get messed up with updates.
In my opinion Alibre needs it's own simple editor for global dimensioning / parameters.
3dcad.fi
shared this idea
21 comments
-
Anonymous
commented
I agree with the need for global dimensions. Not having this feature is a major limitation.
-
Nick Lumb
commented
long since overdue.
-
David
commented
Totally agree. I have a design for a chair in Alibre Design. In order to keep the design in proportion, the dimensions of each part are sometimes dependent on the dimension of another part. In the chair model, the rung length is dependent on the rail length and recess depth. The rear leg length is a function of the front leg length and the seat thickness, and so on. The ability to "scale" my designs is a major reason why I bought this product, but its implementation appears to be seriously lacking. Most designs have at least some interdependency within the parts.
-
David
commented
I think the whole Excel requirement should be scrapped altogether. The problem is that the variables / parameters are "pushed" into each part rather than being automatically "pulled" from the list. Why not just have a list of global parameters entirely within the Alibre Design software, which would then automatically update notify each part accordingly. Currently, Alibre doesn't even know if the spreadsheet has been updated, which is a major loophole in the design logic. At least with my method, the user wouldn't have to keep track of exactly which parts depend on which parameters in order to manually update the correct ones.
-
3dcad.fi
commented
raylvirtuel, excel connection is already possible. And you can connect it to many files and use all the excel functions. The problem is reliability while updating either alibre or excel.
This suggestion is for getting integrated "excel light" inside Alibre for maintaining parameters for multiple parts / assemblies. But I'm sure you're still with us =)
-
raylvirtuel
commented
Excell could be great, if you can input more than one part in to the spreadsheet !!
ALSO it has to be abel to work with the function inside the EXCELL spresdsheet ! -
stephane.crochon
commented
i don't need the big excel thing to hold pair of values, but i do agree that global variables would be helpfull. Complex math too. There are plenty of libraries out there for that.
I think a new "AD_VAR" file type would be nice, and then extend it with some scripting/math/sensor capability (python ? ruby ? ...), this would leverage the API effort. -
stephane.crochon
commented
I (so much) agree ...
-
Philippe Weber
commented
I want it!
-
Raymond Olson
commented
must have
-
RocketNut
commented
http://feedback.alibre.com/forums/16127-alibre-design-suggestions/suggestions/715446-a-equation-value-enterable-from-the-keyboard This suggestion could use a few votes also.
-
3dcad.fi
commented
Please join me with this suggestion to get all the votes under same topic if you have voted either this:
or this:
or if there is more topics for this matter.
I created a new one to find it with all the related words.
Thanks
-
3dcad.fi
commented
Please join me with similar suggestion to get all the votes under same topic:
I created a new one to find it with all the related words.
Thanks
-
3dcad.fi
commented
Please join me with similar suggestion to get all the votes under same topic:
I created a new one to find it with all the related words.
Thanks
-
Maxxy
commented
this would lose the 'must' of using excel in a huge part of our products. which can be an pain in the ass some time...
-
Justin
commented
this is a must have feature
-
Paul Valiquette
commented
This is similar to "Update values in equation editor on import". Both address the limited parametric functionality of AD compared to other programs.
-
RocketNut
commented
I sure would make my life a lot easier.
-
Andrew Gray
commented
very important feature
-
Mel Dashner commented
I agree and I suspect the current editor will not scale well to managing dimensions from large assemblies. Is a link to an Excel spreadsheet in order?
Among other things a better naming convention will be needed to tell where each dimension comes from. For example, assemblyA.assemblyB.partA.d1 names dimension d1 of PartA nested within AssemblyB that is a subassembly in AssemblyA. Probably need a way to collaspe parts and assemblies to keep the number of exposed dimensions to a managable level in the editor window.
