View Variables (3-D)

Drawing > Properties > Attr... > View variables

If a sketch that has been parameterised with HCM constraints contains variables, these will automatically be defined as view variables when the sketch is used in a detail view, a sectional view or a cut-out. If you then change the value of the view variables, all views of the current drawing will be updated and the corresponding detail views, sectional views and cuts-outs will be adjusted accordingly. The original sketch, however, remains unchanged. This allows you to adjust views fast and easily without having to change the corresponding sketch.

Use the View variables function to edit the view variables. You can access the function as follows:

On the Drawing tab, select Properties > Attr... >
By right-clicking the drawing area or the Drawing symbol of the 3-D part structure in the ICN, and selecting the function from the context menu.

The working with view variables is largely identical to the working with part variables, with the difference that view variables are always saved together with the drawing.

When you call the function, a list of the view variables defined in the current drawing will be displayed:

The same options as for part variables are available here:

Change value

Double-clicking a value opens a new input field where you can enter a new value. Then, simply click on another field to apply the value. You can also doouble-click the Variable itself to open a value input window, where you can enter the new value and confirm with OK. The changed values will be marked with a * in the Variables table until you close the table with OK.

Change comment

To assign a comment to a variable, or change an already existing entry, double-click the corresponding row and enter the new comment in the input field.

Activate context menu

Right-click a column row to open a context menu with editing functions:

Delete variable
Deletes the variables marked in the table. The sectional views, detail views and cut-outs in which the variables are used will be adjusted accordingly.
Rename variable
Allows you to change the name of variables.
Add new variable
Adds a new variable. Select the variant type. Enter the variables type. Then, enter the name of the variable and the start value.
For view variables only the variant type Number is of importance. In the HCM constraints, no formulae can be used for elements; therefore, a direct use, e.g. of a point variable of edge variable, will not be possible. In the formulae for values, however, expressions such as edge_length (edgeVar) can be used, e.g. in order to apply the edge length of an edge variable with the name edgeVar.

Insert variable
Inserts the variant from the clipboard.
Copy variable
Copies the variants marked in the table to the clipboard.
Cut variable
Copies the variants marked in the table to the clipboard, removing it from the table.
Remove unused variables
Removes variants which are not used in any sectional view, detail view or cut-out.
Variables, where used
This function is only available for part variants!

Example:

The image below shows a 3-D part with a parameterised sketch (in axonometric view and top view).

A sectional view based on the sketch has been derived from the axonometric view (Example). At the same time, HiCAD has automatically created the view variables.

If you now change the variables, the sectional view will be automatically adjusted, while the sketch remains unchanged.

Please note:

Like part variables, view variables can be controlled via the API.

Of course, you can also define the variables of the views first and assign values to them. In this case, however, please make sure that you assign the same names in the HCM constraints of the sketch from which you want to derive sectional views, detail views or cut-outs.