This Client Server article is republished in its entirety from 2004 for reference purposes.
By Daniel Eng, Technical Support Analyst, Bentley Corporate Office
14 July 2004
What are Parameter Sets?
The Parameter Sets tool is included with the Feature Based Modeling tools in MicroStation V8 2004 Edition. It allows a group of parameters to drive global variables so that they can be applied to a solid made up of Features. In other words, using this tool lets you define a solid based upon a set of defined values to control its shape.
Figure 1 - The Feature Modeling Primary toolbar showing the Parameter Set Icon on the right.
The Parameter Set tools are located under the Feature Modeling Primary tools from the Tools>Feature Modeling drop down menu in MicroStation V8 2004 Edition. These tools are only available with MicroStation V8 2004 Edition and higher versions.
Examining a solid that has a Parameter Set makes it very easy to see the variations possible when different parameters are applied to that solid. A good example is a bolt. Bolts can be any number of different sizes and lengths. Parameter Sets allow you to adjust these user-defined variables so that the solid can be placed in the model at the correct, size, length, and shape as defined by the parameter set.
Figure 2 - Example showing the three different bolts placed in a design file using the Place Feature Cell tool to show the different variations of a bolt with different parameters made from the same original solid.
In Figure 2, you will see three bolts that have been placed in a design file using the Place Feature Cell tool. The Feature Cells were created from the same solid, however, different parameters were defined to the solid to give the different bolt sizes. These parameters were defined using the Parameter Sets.
Keep in mind that a Parameter Set does not need to be used when using Feature Models. A feature-based solid can have its own independent features and does not have to be linked to a Global Variable.
How do Parameter Sets work?
Parameter Sets work in a fashion where each parameter of a solid is based upon a Global Variable. The Global Variable in turn drives the solid to determine what the size and shape of the solid or feature should be.
Figure 3 - The Global Variable and Parameter Set dialog windows where the Parameter Sets are dependent upon the Global Variables.
When a feature is created on a feature-based solid, it can be linked to a Global Variable. A Parameter Set is a collection of these Global Variables, allowing multiple variables to be applied to a solid at one time. Parameter Sets are dependent on Global Variables.
Figure 3 shows the relationship between Parameter Sets and the variables and equations that are defined in the Global Variables. You will see that each Parameter Set contains the same variables defined in the Feature Modeling Global Variables dialog box, however the values for each variable is different in the Parameter Set dialog.
More information about creating and using Global Variables can be found in the Help contents of the Feature Modeling Guide under the Feature Modeling Concepts section.
Creating a Parameter Set is more than just associating a group of Global Variables to a solid; that is, causing the solid to be changed when the parameters are applied to it. You can also create a cell library containing multiple models that have been created using the Feature Solids with Global Variables and Parameter sets to create a catalog of items. With this cell library, your solids can then be inserted into any design file using the Place Feature Cell tool. In order to get to this step, you will need to learn how to create a Parameter Set.
Making a Parameter Set
Figure 4 - The Feature Modeling Parameter Set dialog box showing the New icon being selecting and a new parameter set being created.
When you have all of the Global Variables created and associated to a Feature Solid, all you have to do is select the New icon from the Parameter Set dialog window. This will allow you to create a name for the Parameter Set. When the name is created, you can select the Add New Variable icon to add those variables that you want to include into the Parameter Set.
You do not necessarily need to use all of the variables to define a parameter set. A variable can be removed from a Parameter Set if the Remove Variable icon is selected.
When the parameter set and variables have been included, the variables can be adjusted. Once adjusted, the Apply icon can be selected so that the selected Parameter Set values will be applied to the Feature Solid.
After the Parameter Set has been configured, you can save the Parameter Sets by going to the File drop down menu and selecting Save Table. If you select the Restore Table icon before doing a Save Table, the Parameter Set table will revert back and undo the changes made since the last Save Table was performed.
Modifying a Parameter Set
Figure 5 - Export CSV function from the File Pull down menu in the Parameter Sets dialog window.
There are multiple ways to modify a Parameter Set. Since Parameter Sets are stored in the design model, one way would be to go into the Parameter Sets dialog window and manually modify the parameter that you want to change.
Another option is to export the Parameter Set out to a CSV (comma separated value) file, which can be opened and modified through Microsoft Excel. Once modified, the CSV file can then be re-imported into a model by using the import CSV function to update the parameters.
In order to see how the solid will look with the changes that you have made, you will need to select the Parameter Set and then select the Apply icon. This will apply the parameters that have been selected to the solid. The solid on your screen will be changed automatically.
Placing the Parameter-Based Solid as a Feature Cell
Figure 6 - The Place Feature Cell tool and dialog box from the Modify Feature toolbar.
Now that your Parameter Sets have been set up for a Feature Solid, you can place these solids in a design file by using the
Place Feature Cell tool, located on the Modify Feature toolbox. This tool will allow you to place a Feature Solid as a cell with the specified parameters.
When you use the Place Feature Cell tool, you will need to select the file in which the Parameter Set models are contained.
Editing a Feature Cell
Figure 7 - The Edit Feature Cell dialog box.
The Edit Feature Cell tool can be used to update an existing, placed Feature Cell in a design file. Keep in mind that when you edit the Feature Cell, you are changing the Parameter Set for the cell.
The Feature Cell, when placed, will be static and will not be linked back to the original parameters of the cell from which it was generated. Therefore, when your Feature Cell is placed, it will not automatically be updated to reflect any changes to the Parameter Set model.
Delivered Example files and Additional Information
MicroStation V8 2004 Edition does include a few example files that show how Parameter Sets are created. If you do a complete installation of MicroStation V8 2004 Edition, you can find these files in the following folder:
...\Bentley\Workspace\Projects\Examples\General3D\cell
The example Parameter Set files are:
Hardwareparts.cel, Ladder.cel, StructShapes.cel, PipeFittings.cel
The actual parameters that you can create with these set of tools are endless.
Another place to get additional information on Parameter Sets is the Help file that comes with MicroStation V8 2004 Edition. The Feature Modeling Guide is a good resource for Parameter Sets and Global Variables. In addition, you can visit the FAQ on Parameter Sets.
See Also
MicroStation Desktop TechNotes and FAQs
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