The Parameter Table is a feature in Designer that allows users to parameterise primitive geometry properties. These parameters can be set to varying parameters to enable them to be swept over a range of values.
Set Up
To make use of the parameter table you need to create a new project and ensure Model Type is set to 3D Model. Primitives can only be accessed with 3D models.
Once a project has been created the user can access the parameter table.
Using the Parameter Table
Parameters can be created and can be set as a primitive property value. To add a parameter click the '+' icon in the parameter table
This will bring up the 'Add a New Parameter' window where parameters can be defined. Parameters can have characters in their name but be all one word. In the window you must specify a name and value, here they the user can choose to set to varying parameter which enables parameters to be swept on the cloud. To set a parameter as a property value of a primitive you must first enable that property to be able to use parameters.This is done by simply selecting the small icon next to the property and selecting Use parameter for property.
If the small check box under the Varying column has been selected, if you click run on cloud the parameter will be shown as a variable that can be swept in the cloud schedulers symbx table.
Parameter Table Calculations
Calculations are permitted in the parameter table to allow properties of geometries to depend on one another. These calculations must be entered in the value field of the parameter table and must always start with an equals sign e.g. =2 + $height. When referencing other parameters there is not a requirement for the dollar sign before the parameter name, but this may be a habit of some Analyst users and is accepted. The lists of accepted functions, constants and operators are below.
One Argument
Note: All trigonometric functions operate in radians
Function | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
sin | sine | =sin($angle), if angle = 90, ans = 0.8940 |
asin | inverse sine | =asin($angle), if angle = 1, ans = 1.5708 |
sinh | hyperbolic sine | =sinh($angle), if angle = 1, ans = 1.1752 |
asinh | inverse hyperbolic sine | =asinh($angle), if angle = 90, ans = 5.1930 |
cos | cosine | =cos($angle), if angle = 45, ans = 0.5253 |
acos | inverse cosine | =acos($angle), if angle = 1, ans = 0 |
cosh | hyperbolic cosine | =cosh($angle), if angle = 1, ans= 1.5431 |
acosh | inverse hyperbolic cosine | =acosh($angle), if angle = 90, ans = 5.1929 |
tan | tangent | =tan($angle), if angle = 45, ans = 1.6198 |
atan | inverse tangent | =atan($angle), if angle = 45, ans = 1.5486 |
tanh | hyperbolic tangent | =tanh($angle), if angle = 1, ans = 0.7616 |
atanh | inverse hyperbolic tangent | =atanh($angle), if angle = 1, ans = inf |
sqrt | square root | =sqrt($height), if height = 4, ans = 2 |
exp | exponential | =exp($height), if height = 1, ans = 2.7183 |
log | natural logarithm | =log($height), if height = 10, ans = 2.3026 |
log10 | common logarithm | =log10($height), if height = 10, ans = 1 |
fabs | absolute value | =fabs($height), if height = -10, ans = 10 |
ceil | ceiling | =ceil($height), if height = 10.4, ans = 11 |
floor | floor | =floor($height), if height = 10.4, ans = 10 |
Two Arguments
Function | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
pow | power | =pow($height,$height), if height = 2, ans = 4 |
hypot | hypotenuse | =hypot($height,$length), if height = 1 & length = 2, ans = 2.2361 |
fmod | modulus | =fmod($height,$length), if height = 3 & length = 2, ans = 1 |
min | minimum value | =min($height,$length), if height = 3 & length = 2, ans = 2 |
max | maximum value | =max($height,$length), if height = 3 & length = 2, ans = 3 |
Constants
Function | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
pi | pi = 3.1416 | =2 * pi, ans = 6.2832 |
M_PI | pi = 3.1416 | =2 * M_PI, ans = 6.2832 |
M_PI_2 | pi/2 = 1.5708 | =2 * M_PI_2 = 3.1416 |
M_PI_4 | pi/4 = 0.7854 | =2 * M_PI_4 = 1.5708 |
e | mathematical constant = 2.7183 | = e - 1 = 1.17183 |
M_LN2 | = 0.6931 | =2 * M_LN2 = 1.3862 |
M_LN10 | = 2.3026 | =2 * M_L10 = 4.6052 |
M_SQRT2 | square root of 2 = 1.4142 | =2 * M_SQRT2 = 2.8284 |
Operators
Function | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
+ | plus | =$b1 + $b2, if b1 = 3 & b2 = 5, ans = 8 |
- | minus | =$b2 - $b1, if $b1 = 3 & b2 = 5, ans = 2 |
* | multiply | =$b1 * $b2, if $b1 = 3 & b2 = 5, ans = 15 |
/ | divide | =$b1/b2, if b1 = 12 % b2 = 6, ans = 2 |
() | brackets | =$b1 * ($b2 + $b3 ), if b1 = 2, b2 = 3 and b3 = 4, ans = 14 |
^ | exponential power | =$b1^2, if b1 = 2, ans = 4 |
= | equals | =2 |