Controls the associative parameters used in the Block Editor.
Summary
In the Block Editor, the Parameters Manager displays a consolidated view of all parameters and user-defined properties for the block definition.
The Parameters Manager palette includes a grid control with three columns (Name, Expression, Value) by default. You can add one or more additional columns (Type, Order, Show, or Description) using the shortcut menu.
The Type column affects the formatting of the parameter in the Parameters Manager and Properties palette. It also affects the value of the parameter when the block is scaled.
| Type | Units | Precision | Block Scale Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | LUNITS | LUPREC | Scaled by scale factor |
| Angle | AUNITS | AUPREC | No scale |
| Real | Decimal | LUPREC | No scale |
| Area | Decimal | LUPREC | Multiplied by square of scale |
| Volume | Decimal | LUPREC | Multiplied by cube of scale |
| String | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
The Type cell for User parameters displays a drop-down list of the value types. The parameter can be sorted and can be set to Show or Hide in the Properties palette. The value of the parameter resets to 1 when you change the type from String to another type.
Parameters can be renamed; equations and values can be entered or modified. Changes to a parameter name are immediately updated throughout the table and in the Block Editor.
The parameters for the block definition are organized in the following categories:
- Action Parameters
- Dimensional Constraint Parameters
- Reference Parameters
- User Parameters
- Attributes
You can only add user parameters to the table. When you delete any item from the table, the item is automatically deleted from the block definition.
Create a Dimensional Variable
To create a dimensional variable, you apply a dimensional constraint to an object in the Block Editor. Dimensional variables are displayed under the Dimensional Constraint Parameters group header in the Parameters Manager palette. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)
User variables are custom variables that create and drive object relationships. These variables can contain constants, or equations.
Click the New User Parameter icon on the Parameters Manager palette to create a user variable. Alternatively, double-click an empty cell to create a user-defined variable.
User variables have the following characteristics:
- Default values are: Name = user1, Expression = 1, and value = 1.00.
- Name should be alphanumeric.
- Expression values should be within the range of -1e100 and 1e100.
Edit a Dimensional Variable
You can edit the dimensional variable name and expression. To do so:
- Double-click the name or expression box.
- Select the row and press F2. Press the Tab key to edit the contiguous columns.
When you rename a dimensional variable, all instances of the variable are updated in the drawing and in the Parameters Manager palette.
Delete a Dimensional Variable
The following are the current behavioral changes in the drawing when you delete a dimension variable:
- The associated dimensional constraint in the drawing is removed.
- The variables retain the value calculated by the expression as a constant. This action is for variables referenced by other variables, and ensures that the geometry does not change.
Filtering the Display of Variables
You can filter the display of variables to do the following:
- Display All Parameters — Displays all associative variables. No filter is applied.
- Display Parameters Used in Expressions - Displays all variables that contain expressions to evaluate a value, and variables contained in expressions.
Searching a Parameter
An edit box in the upper-right corner of the Parameters Manager allows you to search for parameters by name.
Shortcut Menu Options
The following options are displayed on the shortcut menus in the Parameters Manager palette. (Not available in AutoCAD LT)