5.8.2.1.20.8.  Manage variables

In the Variable management [Variable Management] dialog box, you can manage variables across the catalog, for example to adjust the naming, set visibility and much more. Right-click on a catalog, one or more projects or any folder > Automation > Manage variables to open the Variable manager [Variable Manager].

You receive a list of all variables from the underlying projects in table form with the corresponding columns Name, Description, Storage location [Save location], Unit, Group, Type, Data type, Decimal places, Status, Hidden, Translatable and Without list selection in a vertical table [Without list selection in vertical table].

Variables management [Variable Management]" window

Variables management [Variable Management]" window

Click on a line to display the file path in the right-hand display window. Via the button ... button to open the project in PARTdesigner.

[Note]Note

The color of the file path is based on the usual PARTproject rules. This means that hidden projects are also displayed here in red font color.

Example path of a project

Example path of a project

[Tip]Tip

You can change the content of an editable field in the table by double-clicking on it. Changes are marked as bold text.

Text in large print clearly indicates changes

Text in large print clearly indicates changes

Variable groups

If you move the mouse pointer over the Group column, all assigned groups are displayed as a tooltip.

The Groups column in the Administration variable [Variable Management]

The Groups column in the Administration variable [Variable Management]

If you click on a cell within the Group column, you can call up the Variable groups window via the ... button.

[Note]Note

Variable groups [Groups of variables] can be created and managed on the General tabbed page under Create variable groups. See Section 5.9.2.3.2, “ Creating variable groups (at catalog level) ”.

Window Variables Groups [Variable groups]

Window Variables Groups [Variable groups]

Search function

Use the filter [Filter] line to filter the table. Select a term or enter something.

[Note]Note

Select <empty> to filter for empty fields.

You can search using wildcards ( * ), e.g. " C* ", " *C " or " *C* "

Checking the table contents

The system checks the variables in the table and displays a yellow or red warning symbol if a corresponding entry contains an error. You can move the mouse over the symbol to display the warning text as a tooltip.

[Tip]Tip

A "problem" is the generic term for an error or a warning.

An "error" is a serious problem that requires additional measures or can lead to the affected project no longer being functional.

A "warning" is a minor problem that should be fixed, but the affected project should remain functional.

Example warning: "The variable is in a group, but hidden. [The variable is in a group, but hidden.]"

Example warning: "The variable is in a group, but hidden. [The variable is in a group, but hidden.]"

As soon as there are problems, you can use the navigation at the bottom left to jump to the corresponding messages.

Navigation error

Navigation error

When you have corrected all errors, click on Apply and / or OK.

Read-only mode

With SVN-managed catalogs, variables can only be managed if the catalog is checked out. If this is not the case, you can open the variable management [Variable Management] but not make any changes. If you open a part from this view in PARTdesigner, it also only opens in read-only mode.

Variable management [Variable Management] in read-only mode

Variable management [Variable Management] in read-only mode

If you select a directory that contains both checked-out and checked-in parts, a dialog box appears.

Dialog window

Dialog window

You can then view all projects in read-only mode or ignore the read-only parts so that they are not displayed in the variable management [Variable Management].

5.8.2.1.20.8.1. Functions
Export tables [Table export]

Above the table, you have the option of exporting the displayed table using the Export tables [Table export] button.

The Export tables [Table export] dialog box opens, see chapter Section 7.12.17, “ Save as CSV file ”.

Algorithm import (as table)

In Variable Management, you have the option of performing a batch import for algorithms.

Algorithm import (as table)

Algorithm import (as table)

You need a meta CSV file with the following structure:

"PRJ_PATH","ALGO_CSV_PATH"
"thing/part.prj","../thing/part_algo_A.csv"
"thing/part.prj","../thing/part_algo_B.csv"
"other/foo.prj","foo_algo_Z.csv"

The header must be included and look like this:

"PRJ_PATH","ALGO_CSV_PATH"

The project file paths can be absolute or relative to the target catalog. The algorithm CSV file paths can be absolute or relative to the meta CSV.

All target projects must be checked out. A dialog box opens showing information on the progress. Each CSV file is loaded, an algorithm is created, checked for validity and saved in the target project. Any errors are displayed in the dialog box.

Algorithm import (as table)

Algorithm import (as table)

Report CSV

If required, have a report created during an import that lists all changes.

To do this, click on Import algorithm [Algorithm import] in the variable administration [Variable Management] and select a CSV file for the report. As soon as you click on Import, you will see in the history whether the import was successful. You will also receive a status message indicating whether there have been any changes or not. If nothing has been changed, the CSV created is empty.

Import algorithm [Algorithm import] Report CSV

Import algorithm [Algorithm import] Report CSV

Resolve links

If the option is activated, linked projects are also loaded. These linked projects can be located anywhere in the catalog, i.e. also outside the initial selection. This can result in projects being displayed in the file paths that do not belong to the actual selection.

The visibility of linked projects depends on the visibility of the link.

Project filter

Select which projects should be displayed based on their visibility.

Reload variables

Above the table there is the option variables loading [Reload variables]. If you have previously made changes, a dialog box that asks whether you want to save the changes or .

Context menu commands

You can use additional functions by right-clicking on any cell content (except the header).

Combine variables

[Note]Note

When combining, all selected lines are aligned so that they are identical. All previous values are overwritten.

You can combine two or more variables by holding down CTRL and selecting the lines you want to combine with a mouse click. By clicking the secondary mouse button on one of the selected lines, the context menu opens and you can select Combine variables.

In the window of the same name, you can make a selection before merging if there are different entries in the same column. After pressing OK, the rows are aligned and the old values are overwritten.

Reset variables

You can use Reset variables to reset previously made changes to a line to the original value.

[Important]Important

Resetting the variables only works if the change has not yet been saved.

Delete variables

Deletes the selected variable after a confirmation prompt, provided there are no dependencies.

[Caution]Caution

If one or more dependencies exist, a warning message appears first. The variable can still be removed, but all projects containing this variable may then be defective!

Export tables [Table export]

Opens the Table Export [Table export] dialog box for the selected rows.