I have a part that has global variables in it's equations that then drive multiple dimensions. Can I link those variables to a design table directly, or do I need to drive each dimension with a separate column in the design table and destory the global variable? Maybe I can drive linked dimension values directly?
Or as a third option, drive the part properties that then drive the global variables?
Hi Steven
Not sure about linked values, you'll have to experiment, but global vars and properties easy with a DT
I agree with Rob, even using the Design Table Auto Create option you should be presented with all the available options that are already used in your model.
They are not automatically populated in the DT as far as I know, is there some a setting to do so? I usually get them in a DT by making the dimensions to show in the model, then selecting them one by one. And I did not know of some way of doing that for equations, as I have to close the DT editor to even open the equation manager.
Hi Steven
A trick I use is to create a new config, then configure anything I want to add to the DT in equations this way
they normally get picked up that way
That looks like the equation manager, not a new design table.
My question is how I would get Global Variable 'a' there into a design table. Just type $VALUE@a@Equations at the top of a collumn on the design table seems to be the best way to do it right now.
For sure you can type them in, especially if there's just a few to do
In my reply above I'm adding a config and then configuring the global variable in the equation manager. Solidworks will then add it to the DT the next time it is opened/created.
This works for pretty much everything as far as Im aware. For example if you ever want to configure sketch relation states, this is definitely a good way to go.
I've attached a video to show what I mean
Oh I see! Make the GV have multiple configurations instead of the default one value across all configurations, and that causes it to populate into the DT. No need for typing like the other post.
I wish I could give multiple posts as the correct answer...
Yes. When using a Design Table I normally create all my configs in the DT, but I find it's convenient to manually create one configuration before inserting, that way I can configure everything I want added beforehand. I then normally close the DT and open it again in a new window,,, I really hate using Excel in Solidworks, it jumps around and the scale f***s up, the scroll bars don't work, makes me mad
You really would think you'd be able to add them from here
doesn't work for me...ah well,,
It been my experience that when creating a design table and using the Auto Create option the options include all of the presently used 'ones'. I think Rob is showing those in his picture above, though the ones he shows (I believe) are ones he added for the purposes of his post. Of course the Auto Create option prevents misspellings from manual text entry that I don't believe indicate as such anywhere except when you attempt to actually use them.
An update on this, Rob Edwards. I made a new part, made it's "Global Variables" and linked the GV dimensions in the model. Then made the multiple configs and tried to drive different values to the GV depending on configurations, only to see the multi-config option disappear. Tried to bypass the problem by driving the linked dimensions in the model, but the model was staying the same no matter the configuration. To solve this I had to open the design table in a new window and manually type in $VALUE@"Global Variable"@Equations on each column (it already had the values for all 20 configs, and I didn't want to re-do that). This finally solved the problem, and I now have a 16 config model working with a design table.
I am using SW 2016.
Hi Steven
Not sure about linked values, you'll have to experiment, but global vars and properties easy with a DT