Entering a value

 

 

 

 

Links/Videos:

 

 

 

Indicate the value using the following dialog:

 

The decimal separator used is the one defined in the regional options in Windows (accessible via Start > Settings > Control panel > Regional and Language options).

 

A value is validated (and moving on to next input field) via the Tabulation key.

 

 

An integrated calculator allows you to enter a simple formula or parameter-based expression:

 

See the paragraph Operators and integrated functions of the calculator for more detail.

 

Formulas are not conserved when prefixed by the "#" sign, only their result is conserved.

E.g.: Parameter h equals 10

If you enter: 15 + h or =15 + h you will get: 25 (15 + h), the formula is kept and displayed.

If you enter: #15 + h you will get: 25, the formula is calculated but not kept.

 

 

An input error or an incomplete formula will display an exclamation point and your input will not be validated:

 

Rolling the cursor over the exclamation point displays a message indicating the field containing the error.

 

 

 

The button displays the following drop-down menu which allows you to recover a value by selecting an item in the graphic zone or to select a parameter.

 

 

Entered value:

This is the default mode, the value is entered by the keyboard.

Measured value:

The value is measured by selecting an item in the graphic zone, there is no link.

Associative value:

Idem "Measured value" with a link to the selected item.

 

 

The middle section of the dialog allows you to create specific "on the fly" parameters, i.e. the parameter was not created initially, but will be created from the function. The different parameters are:

 

 

 

The last section of the dialog allows you to create a parameter "on the fly", i.e. the parameter was not created initially, but will be created from the function. The different parameters are:

 

 

 

 

Integrated operators and functions of the calculator:

 

Operator

Description

+

Addition

-

Subtraction

*

Multiplication (this operator is not available between 2 variables)

/

Division  (this operator is not available between 2  variables)

^

Exponentiation  (this Operator is not available between 2 variables)

 

 

  • The operators are taken into account from left to right, following this priority:  ^  >  *  >  /  >  +  >  -

  • However, you have the option of using parentheses to prioritize some operators more than others.

E.g.: : 10+20/5 = 14 or  (10+20)/5 = 6

 

 

The = is reserved to declare a text formula or a parameter. To create basic texts beginning by =, you have to enter '==' which will be interpreted as '='. If you need to begin with 2 equal, you will have to enter 3 and so on.

 

 

Function

Description

pi

3.1415926535897932385

 

 

abs(x)

Absolute value

 

 

sqrt(x)

Square root

exp(x)

Exponential

ln(x)

Naperian logarithm

log(x)

Decimal logarithm

 

 

cos(x)

Cosine of an angle

sin(x)

Sine of an angle

tan(x)

Tangent of an angle

 

 

acos(x)

Arc cosine of an angle

asin(x)

Arc sine of an angle

atan(x)

Arc tangent of an angle

atan2(y; x)

Arc tangent 2 arguments

 

 

involute(x)

Involute of an angle. Result is a factor.

Corresponds to the operation " tan(x) -(x*pi)/180 "

inverseinvolute(x)

Inverse involute of a factor.

Result is an angle

 

 

floor(x;unit)

Conversion from real by rounding to the lower value.

round(x;unit)

Conversion from real by rounding to the nearest value.

ceil(x;unit)

Conversion from real by rounding to the higher value.

 

 

val(text)

Conversion from text to number.

 

 

isnull(x)

Returns 1 when the value of a real or a string is empty.

Example:

The value of the Diam parameter is: when(isnull('Text 1');"-";"Ø"&'Text 1')

If Text 1 is empty then Diam = -

If Text 1 is 16 then Diam = Ø16

 

 

min(x; y; ...)

Returns the minimum value between n values (n must be greater than or equal to 2).

max(x; y; ...)

Returns the maximum value between n values (n must be greater than or equal to 2).

when(condition; x; y)

Returns the x value if the condition is true and the y value if the condition is false.

 

 

x&&y

Corresponds to the logical Operator AND : returns 1 if x and y conditions are true.

It is possible to cumulate arguments like for example : x&&y&&z

x||y

Corresponds to the logical Operator OR : returns 1 if x or y conditions is true.

It is possible to cumulate arguments like for example : x||y||z

!

Different from : x ! y  returns 1 if x is different from y and returns 0 if x = y. When using in a parameter, select factor while there is no unit.

 

 

x==y

Returns 1 if x = y

x>=y

Returns 1 if x > ( or equal) y

x>y

Returns 1 if x > y

x<=y

Returns 1 if x < (or equal) y

x<y

Returns 1 if x < y

 

 

@'x'.y

Retrieves the value of the parameter y contained in the local part or local assembly named x.

Example: for a local part named Part 1 <155> containing a parameter Dia, the expression to enter will be @'Part 1 <155>'.Dia

 

 

Functions are not usable with variables. For example, it is possible to write abs(10), but not abs(v1), v1 is a variable.

 

 

Toleranced Values:

 

You can enter or not enter normalized tolerances in values, which must be between brackets.

E.g.:

50mm [H7]

When tolerances are not normalized, tolerance values must be separated by a semicolon.

E.g.:

50mm [-0,2;0,1]

Switching to a minimum, maximum, average or nominal value is done by clicking on the button when editing the setting or dimension and selecting the desired display type from the Tolerance sub-menu.

 

You can find some examples by following this link.

 

Operations on strings:

 

Function

Description

Example

length(s)

Get the number of characters of a string s.

N=length("TopSolid") is equal to 8 (N is an integer parameter).

 

  

 

    

left(s;n)

Get the n first characters of a string s.

C=left("TopSolid";3) is equal to "Top" (C is a text parameter).

 

 

 

 

 

right(s;n)

Get the n last characters of a string s.

C=right("TopSolid";5) is equal to "Solid" (C is a text parameter).

 

 

 

 

 

mid(s;m)

Get the last characters of a string s starting from the index m.

C=mid("TopSolid";3) is equal to "pSolid" (C is a text parameter).

 

 

 

 

 

mid(s;m;n)

Get the n characters of a string s starting from the index m.

C=mid("TopSolid";4;2) is equal to "So" (C is a text parameter).

 

  

 

    

&

Merge (add) of strings

S1="TopSolid" and S2="great" are 2 text parameters.

C=S1&" is "&S2 is equal to "TopSolid is great" (C is a text parameter).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

&

Retrieve the value of a real parameter

L=20mm is a real parameter.

C="The length is: "&L is equal to "The length is: 20mm" (C is a text parameter).

 

 

 

 

 

format(v;f)

Format the numerical value v according to the f format.

Syntax :
  • 0 or #: use # to not display the integer value when it is equal to zero and use 0 to always display it.
  • Optionally .000…0 or .###...#: the number of 0 or # symbols gives the number of digits to display. With 0, symbols, the number of digits is respected even with zeros if needed. With # symbols, the zeros are not displayed if it is not necessary.
  • Optionally U: allows to display the unit symbol.

C is a text parameter:

C=format(0.5mm; "0.00") is equal to "0.50"

C=format(0.5mm; "#.00") is equal to ".50"

C=format(1.5mm; "0.00") is equal to "1.50"

C=format(2.567mm; "0.00") is equal to "2.56"

C=format(2.567mm; "0.##") is equal to "2.56"

C=format(1.5mm; "0.##") is equal to "1.5"

C=format(2.567mm, "0.##U") is equal to "2.56mm"
  
C is a text parameter and D is the diameter of a cylinder (real) equal to 35.6mm
C="Ø of the rough cylinder: " & format(ceil(D;1mm);"0") is equal to  "Ø of the rough cylinder: 36"

 

 

  • Comparison operators like ==, !=, <, <=, > et >= can be used to compare two texts. For example, in a when function, the condition can be a test with string characters and the result can also be a string characters.

  • A characters string is between double quotes " ", a parameter not.

  • A formula begins with = (like MS Excel).

  • It is possible to merge a text parameter value with a text (characters string). For example:

="mass=" &mass 1 : merge of the string "mass=" with the named parameter mass 1.

="mass="& "mass 1" : merge of 2 strings "mass=" and "mass 1" (the result is "mass=mass 1")

  • If the formula begins with # it will be calculated, then basified. It will not change if one of its parameter changes..

  • To have the value of an enumeration parameter, you must add .text after the parameter. For example, for an enumeration parameter HT1, write =HT1.text