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Drive new configuration names from a Design Table equation

Question asked by Allan Smithee on Mar 7, 2018
Latest reply on Mar 8, 2018 by Dennis Dohogne

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Is there a way to drive the name and/or part number from an equation in a Design Table Excel sheet?

Let's say I have a part named "X.sldprt" with an open-ended configuration publisher allowing me to enter the length when I insert a new part. I want new configurations to be called "X-<Length>". Can I enter a column in the Design Table called "Configuration@X.sldprt" (or something similar, perhaps from this list), such that the new configuration name will be generated from that Excel formula? Alternatively can I use some formula in the Configuration Specific Properties tab to do this?

EDIT: More generally, what is the proper syntax for combining parameters in the Properties menu? And what is the configuration name property called?

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Dennis Dohogne Mar 7, 2018 5:26 PM
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The Design Table, being an Excel spreadsheet, allows you to use all the great capabilities of Excel. Here is a Snip of one of mine where the configuration name and the description are a combination of static and dynamic (cell references) elements. I think you are asking for just such a capability. All you will need to do is copy a row and enter your new length in the appropriate cell and you can have the configuration use that length in the name. If you can do it it Excel you can do it in a Design Table.

Here's a tip: Anything you plan to put into a Design Table you should name it. Pitch Dia@Sketch2 sure is easier to figure out than D3@Sketch2.
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- Allan Smithee @ Dennis Dohogne on Mar 7, 2018 11:23 PM
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  Dennis Dohogne, thanks for the response. Yes I understand that and am quite comfortable using Excel functions to drive part dimensions, parameters, etc. What you have described works perfectly well for a "closed set" list of predefined part dimensions / suppressed features / etc.
  
  What I'm trying to do is generate NEW configuration names from parameters, specifically using the "open-ended" Configuration Publisher setup. SolidWorks also allows you to use the Configuration Publisher in an "open ended" fashion wherein only the default part exists in the design table but the dimensions / features you wish to vary are added as columns. Then the features / dimension values are defined (within constraints) when you create new configurations "on the fly" within an assembly. There's a more detailed explanation here. Also please see my previous post here.
  
  Is it possible to "force" the configuration name using either an Excel formula or using parameters on the Configuration Specific tab of the Properties menu? For instance, I could make a dummy variable ($PRP@config_name or something) with a formula in the Design Table driven by other parameters. Then in the Summary Information dialog could I set the configuration name property equal to this dummy variable?
  
  More generally, what is the syntax for combining parameters in the Properties menu? And what is the configuration name property actually called??
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Igor Fomenko Mar 7, 2018 11:13 PM
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No way, each time for new config you have to open design table and set (copy&paste) formula for config.name or $description.
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- Allan Smithee @ Igor Fomenko on Mar 7, 2018 11:24 PM
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  That might be okay if I can set the formula with the Default configuration and it will carry through to the derived configurations. I just don't know if SolidWorks will create new rows like this or not.
  What do you mean by config.name?
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  - Igor Fomenko @ Allan Smithee on Mar 7, 2018 11:27 PM
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    Config.name is a config name, it`s the first column of your design table, it is what you see in config property window.
    If you are ready to open design table for each new config. and copy config name formula for this 'Default' from previous config, you don`t have a problem, it`s possible.
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    - Allan Smithee @ Igor Fomenko on Mar 7, 2018 11:39 PM
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      Well that's the whole point, I want it to be automatic and driven by the other parameters that are entered when the new configuration is created in an assembly. That's why I thought perhaps I could do it with the File - Properties dialog.
      
      I assumed that's what you meant by "config.name" but what is that property actually called? SW-ConfigurationName@PartName or something like that? How would I refer to that property in the Summary Information dialog?
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      - Igor Fomenko @ Allan Smithee on Mar 7, 2018 11:38 PM
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        $PRP:"SW-Configuration Name"
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        Allan Smithee @ Igor Fomenko on Mar 7, 2018 11:43 PM
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        Thanks. That's for the design table but what about in the File - Properties dialog?
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        Igor Fomenko @ Allan Smithee on Mar 7, 2018 11:47 PM
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        No, Allan. It was for File -Properties dialog
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        Allan Smithee @ Igor Fomenko on Mar 7, 2018 11:49 PM
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        Okay, I see. I meant what is the Property Name for the configuration name? Like if I wanted Configuration Name in the left column of that image you just showed. I want to set the Configuration Name based on other parameters that I would enter into the Vale / Text Expression column.
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        Igor Fomenko @ Allan Smithee on Mar 8, 2018 12:12 AM
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        I`ve already written, no way. All what you can is to use default config for creation of new config and to use Dennis Dohogne post about renaming of config.
        Make Default config to be active
        Change some dims
        Open design table and copy previous config.name formula to Default config name
        Exit design table
        You`ve got new config with right config name (Default config is not deleted after renaming, it`s good)
        That`s all
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        Allan Smithee @ Igor Fomenko on Mar 8, 2018 12:17 AM
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        That stinks. Would really improve the functionality of the "open ended" Configuration Publisher option.
        
        It's unfortunate that they haven't implemented a way to drive new configuration names from other parameters. Seems like it would be simple enough to enter a formula in the File - Properties - Configuration Specific dialog to determine the config names. If one name wasn't unique, then SW could put the "-new1, -new2, etc" after it, but for those of us that were diligent about designing formulas this wouldn't be an issue.
        
        If I wanted to create a large Design Table with all possible combinations, I could do that (wouldn't be too hard as I'm very fluent with Excel functions). But it would be a large file and might be slow to open or insert new parts. The flexibility of the Config Publisher makes it attractive in that I can enter "custom" lengths (i.e. fractions of an inch instead of just even numbers). Also, new configurations wouldn't be added to the design table until they were actually used in assemblies so the table would be much smaller and more efficient.
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        Dennis Dohogne @ Allan Smithee on Mar 8, 2018 6:45 AM
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        Allan, I have not use DriveWorks Express, but maybe it can do this. It would be worth looking into.
        
        The only other thing I could think of to really give you what you want would be some sort of macro working either inside SWX or inside the DT or both. And since I mentioned macros #TASK comes to mind. I have seen this group do some very impressive things. If it cannot already do what you want they might be able to easily put it together. https://centralinnovation.com.au/manufacturing/task-the-solidworks-users-personal-assistant/
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        Allan Smithee @ Igor Fomenko on Mar 8, 2018 12:20 AM
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        That would make new parts with each different configuration. I would like them all driven from one part if possible. There's got to be a way; maybe using VBA?
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        Igor Fomenko @ Allan Smithee on Mar 8, 2018 12:53 AM
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        I think Excel is enough
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Igor Fomenko Mar 8, 2018 2:18 AM
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The same situation this PartNumber property.
Please take a look at
How to link SW-Part number property to custom property
Why is PART NUMBER not uniform between Parts, Drawing files and ToolBox
sw-part number not bi-directional.....
"SW-Part Number" vs "SW-Part Number (BOM)" property
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Drive new configuration names from a Design Table equation

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