Creating an External Parameter

You can create a parameter located in a component and pointing to an element located in another component. Use the As Result With Link command so that the copied parameter keeps a link with the original one and is updated when the latter is modified.

Note: The update status of external parameters is component-wise. If n external parameters contained in one representation point to parameters in the same component, these external parameters are all seen as not updated if only one of them is not updated.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Make sure you have selected:
  • The Parameters and the External References check boxes in Me > Preferences > 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Common Preferences > Display > 3D Shape Infrastructure.
  • The With Formula and With Value check boxes in Me > Preferences > 3D Modeling > Multi Discipline Automated Engineering > Knowledge Basics > Parameters & Relations > Parameters tree view.
  • Keep link with selected object check box (Me > Preferences > 3DEXPERIENCE Platform Common Preferences > General.
See Also
Creating an External Parameter Pointing to an Attribute

Create an External Parameter by Copying and Pasting a Parameter

You can create an external parameter by copying and pasting a parameter from one representation to the other using the As Result With Link command.

Before you begin: Create a product containing two other products. The first product must contain a line and a Line_Length parameter that computes the line length.
  1. Expand the first representation, right-click the Line_Length parameter located below the Parameters node in the tree, and select the Copy.
  2. Double-click, then right-click the second representation, and select Paste Special.
  3. In the Paste Special dialog box, select As Result With Link and click OK to validate.
    The External Parameters node is added to the tree and the copied parameter is displayed.

Important: If the publication is redirected to another parameter of different type, the pointed parameter changes its value and the corresponding local parameter displays an error. The pointed parameter must be of the same type as the external parameter.

Create an External Parameter Using the Create External Parameter Command

You can create an external parameter using Create External Parameter.

Before you begin: Create a Product containing two other Products. The first Product must contain a line and a Line_Length parameter that computes the line length.
  1. Activate the second product, click Formula and click Create External Parameter in the Formulas dialog box.
    The Create Parameter on Attribute dialog box opens.
  2. Click Select from Current Editor and click the parameter in the first Product.
    It appears in the Create Parameter on Attribute dialog box.
  3. Edit its name in the Parameter name box and click Create to create it.
  4. Click Close.

Example

In this example, you are going to create a parameter by copying a parameter of Length type that computes the length of a line.

  1. Create a product containing two other products.
  2. Create a line in the geometry. The first product must contain a line and a Line_Length parameter that computes the line length.
  3. Double-click, then right-click the second representation, and select Paste Special.
  4. select As Result With Link and click OK
  5. Activate the second product, click Formula and click Create External Parameter.
  6. Click Select from Current Editor and click the Line_Length parameter in the first Product.
  7. Edit its name in the Parameter name box and click Create to create it.
  8. Click Close.