Use the parameter value table to specify how variations of the master part should be generated. When you change the value for a parameter listed in the table, you tell Parametric Design to modify all elements in the master part that are constrained to depend on this parameter. The constraints on the part determine exactly what modifications will occur. The changes are not actually made until you issue a SOLVE command.

To change the value for a parameter, simply select its entry from the table and enter the new value from the keyboard. If there are too many entries to view at once, use the scroll bar beside the table. The type of value you give (linear, angular, or point) depends on the type of the parameter. Usually, the parameter name will be descriptive enough to indicate what type of value is expected. It is easy to tell if a point value is expected, because point parameters take up two slots in the table. The upper slot contains the x coordinate of the point and the lower slot contains the y coordinate. Note that you still enter point values using the standard Creo Elements/Direct Drafting x,y format.

If you need more specific information about the correspondence between parameter entries in the table and the elements in the master part, use the SHOW function in the upper left of MENU 1. When you pick SHOW, elements in the master that have parameters assigned to them are highlighted or marked with icons as described below.

If a parameter is associated with a dimension in the part, the parameter name is appended to the corresponding dimension text and both are highlighted (in CYAN by default). By examining the dimension, you can tell whether the parameter requires linear or angular input.

Parameter names may also be associated with several kinds of geometric constraints that have been assigned to the master part by a designer. If any of the parameters in the value table are associated with geometric constraints and you pick SHOW, these constraints are marked with icons as well as with the parameter name. Each type of geometric constraint has a unique icon to identify it. Icons and parameter labels are drawn in CYAN by default. Your current text font is used to display the parameter names. Consult Constraint Types for complete information on geometric constraints, their icons, and the types of values to be supplied to each.

The SHOW highlighting is removed whenever you pick SOLVE to generate a variation. Alternately, you can go to MENU 2 and select CLEAR and All Types to remove the highlighting.