About Adding Parameters to a Family Table

You must set the values of parameters for a Family Table by using either table-driven values or relations. However, ensure that you do not use both methods simultaneously for any single parameter.

For example, you can use a relation to establish the width of a model and a table-driven value to determine its length, but neither parameter must be determined by both a relation and a table-driven value.

If a parameter in a generic model is table-driven and evaluated by a relation, the value produced by the relation overwrites all values for that parameter in the Family Table. For family instances, however, the table-driven values for the parameter are not overwritten by the relation value until the instances are regenerated.

If you must use a table-driven parameter in a relation, ensure that you keep the table-driven value on the right side of the operator to keep its value from being reevaluated and overwritten by the relation.

You can add table-restricted parameters to Family Tables. On selecting a parameter, the entire parameter set is automatically selected. A Family Table can add and drive any parameter within the set, based on the conditions defined in the restriction definition file.

A top-level parameter (one related to a part or assembly) is stored under its own name only, without any prefixes or suffixes, in the Family Table (for example, parameter_name).

A lower-level parameter (one related to a component or feature) is stored under its own name followed by :FID_ and the feature ID or name of its parent (for example, parameter_name:FID_fid). For example:

• In the model (part or assembly), the model parameter called ABC would be stored under the name ABC.

• In an assembly, a particular component has a feature ID of 10. The associated component parameter DEF would be stored under the name DEF:CID_10.

• In the model (part or assembly), a particular feature has a feature ID of 23. The associated feature parameter HIJ would be stored under the name HIJ:FID_23.

• In the model (part or assembly), a particular feature has a feature name MYHOLE. The associated feature parameter KLM would be stored under the name KLM:FID_MYHOLE.

In relations, if you want to add parameters of a model, features, components, or other items such as quilts, curves, edges, inheritance, or annotation elements using the Relations dialog box, click Insert > From List. The Select Parameter dialog box opens. Select the required parameter and click Insert Selected. The Select Parameter dialog box closes and the parameter with a correct suffix is displayed under Relations.