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Parameters and configurations

Named parameters and expressions

A project can define named parameters with numeric values or expressions. You can reference them in numeric fields such as feature distances, sketch constraints and placement offsets, so a small set of values can drive the whole model.

  • Manage them from the Parameters panel.
  • Expressions support math, references to other parameters and sketch dimension aliases (d1, d2; see Sketching).
  • The solver tracks dependencies and detects cycles. When a value changes, it rebuilds the affected geometry.

Configurations and variants

Configurations let one project hold several named variants without duplicating the model tree. Each configuration can override parameter values and choose whether features are forced on, forced off or inherited from the base model.

  • Manage them from the Configurations panel in the sidebar tree.
  • Switching the active configuration rebuilds that variant. Dimensions bound to a parameter take the active configuration's value, also while you edit the sketch.
  • While a configuration is active, the Parameters panel shows its value of each parameter. An overridden parameter carries a config badge, and the base value is listed underneath wherever it differs. Edit base switches the panel to the base values.
  • An override value that a sketch cannot satisfy is refused, and the notification names the sketches it would break, just as for a parameter edit. Switching to a configuration is never refused; a sketch it cannot solve keeps its last shape and shows a warning.
  • A base parameter edit is checked in every configuration that uses the base value, not only the active one. If it would break a sketch there, or leave one of its expressions without a value, it is refused and the notification names the configuration (or the base model, when the active configuration overrides the parameter).
  • Use Compare to view two configurations side by side, including their volume, mass, bounding box, and differences in parameters and features.
  • Use Batch export to create one file per configuration in a single archive.