Use configuration variables to define dependencies or to carry out calculations. Depending on their intended use, you require a specific variable type.
Precondition:
You have called the dialog Designer and are in the editing mode of a Macro-Typical or of a Typical-Group.
Creating a configuration variable
- Enter the designation that you want to use for referencing in the Name field under Configuration variables.
- Select the Type of the variable.
- Click the
Create configuration variable button. - The new variable is added to the list of configuration variables. Now you can define a further fields.
- In the Displayed name field enter the designation that is to be displayed for the engineer in the Project Builder.
- Activate the Mandatory check box if you want the entry of a value for the variable to be mandatory in the Project Builder.
Specifying predefined values
Specify pre-defined values if you want the engineer to have to select one of the values from a drop-down list in the Project Builder. The free entry of a value is then no longer possible.
- Click the
button. - A list with pre-defined values is displayed.
- Click the
Edit button. - An input field is displayed.
- Enter the desired values. Each line in the input field stands for one predefined value. Click the
Save button. - The values are added to the list.
- Your entries are checked. If your entries do not match the variable type, a corresponding error message is output.
- The list is hidden.
Notes:
- When editing the list of predefined values you can either insert the values manually or copy and paste them. If you press Esc during editing, the list is hidden and your entries are not saved.
- If you click outside the edit dialog while editing the list of predefined values, the dialog is closed and your entries are not saved.
Duplicating a configuration variable
- Click the
button next to the configuration variable that you want to duplicate in the workspace. - The duplicate is added at the end of the list of the configuration variables. The Name is applied and the following suffix is added: "_<Counter>
_duplicate ". All the other values are applied unchanged.
- Change the name and the values in accordance with your requirements.
Displaying references to a configuration variable
- In the workspace click the
button next to the configuration variable for which all available references are to be shown. - The Existing references dialog is opened.
- All macros that are referenced with the configuration variable are listed in the dialog.
- The purpose for which the configuration variable is used, for example the calculation of the position of a macro is shown under each macro.
Deleting a configuration variable
- Click the
button next to the configuration variable that you want to delete.
Note:
You can only delete a configuration variable if it is not used in a formula.
Notes:
- You can use configuration variables in Macro-Typicals and Typical-Groups. The procedure is the same.
- You can sort the list of the configuration variables. Click the
button next to the configuration variable that you want to move, keep the mouse button pressed and drag the variable to the desired position. - When you subsequently change the name of a configuration variable, all the formulas in which variables are referenced are adapted automatically.
Read more
Configuration variables: Basics