5.8.2.1.20.  Automation
5.8.2.1.20.8.  Manage variables
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5.8.2.1.20.8.  Manage variables
5.8.2.1.20.8.1. Features Overview
5.8.2.1.20.8.2. Algorithm Import

In the Variable Management [Variable Management] dialog box, you can manage variables across the entire catalog—for example, to standardize naming conventions, set visibility, and much more. Click on a catalog, one or more projects, or any folder, then right-click > Automation [Automation] > Manage Variables [Manage variables] to open the Variable Management dialog box.

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 Variable Management.

5.8.2.1.20.8.1. Features Overview
Features Overview

Features Overview

Export tables [Table export]

Above the table, you can export the displayed table by clicking the "Export Table [Table export] " button.

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

Import Algorithm [Algorithm import]: See below.

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 rows are aligned so that they are identical. In the process, all previous values are overwritten.

    You can combine two or more variables by holding down CTRL and clicking to select the rows you want to combine. Right-clicking on one of the selected rows opens the context menu, where you can select " Combine Variables [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 variable 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 there is one or more dependencies, a warning message will appear first. The variable can still be removed, but afterward, all projects that contained this variable may no longer work properly!

  • Export tables [Table export]

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

5.8.2.1.20.8.2.  Algorithm Import

In PARTproject, on the Variable Management [Variable Management] dialog page, you can assign algorithms to an entire catalog using a batch file.

Algorithm import (as table)

Algorithm import (as table)

To import an algorithm for a specific project, use PARTdesigner.

Importing Algorithms into PARTdesigner

Importing Algorithms into PARTdesigner

For batch import, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the desired catalog > Automation > Manage Variables [Manage variables] to open the Variables Management [Variable Management] dialog box.

  2. Click the "Algorithm Import [Algorithm import]" button there. (This button has nothing to do with the "Export" button next to it.)

    -> The " Import Algorithm (as Table) [Algorithm import (as table)] " dialog box opens.

  3. Click on " Meta CSV " there, then click "...", and open the corresponding batch file in the Explorer window

    -> Each CSV file is loaded, and the algorithms are checked for validity. Any errors are displayed in the dialog box.

    -> All target projects must be checked out.

    Structure of the batch file (batch_import.csv):

    The header must be included and must look like this:

    "PRJ_PATH","ALGO_CSV_PATH"

    So, each line is associated with a project and the corresponding algorithm .

    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.

    "PRJ_PATH","ALGO_CSV_PATH"
"algo_table_import.prj","algo_table_a1.csv"
"algo_table_import.prj","subdir/algo_table_a2.csv"
"algo_table_import_2.prj","algo_table_a2.csv"
"subdir/algo_table_import_3.prj","algo_table_a3.csv"

    Structure of the algorithm CSV files:

    The structure is identical to that of PARTdesigner (see above ).

  4. If necessary, have a report generated during an import that lists all changes. To do this, assign an output file under "Report CSV [Report CSV]."

    As soon as you click Import , you can see in the history whether the import was successful. You will also receive a status message indicating whether any changes were made or not. If nothing was changed, the generated CSV file will be empty.

    Import algorithm [Algorithm import] Report CSV

    Import algorithm [Algorithm import] Report CSV

  5. Click on Import.

    -> A dialog box opens, displaying information about the progress .

    -> The algorithms are imported and saved in the target projects .

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