Run Parametric & Rerun Parametric ( Modeling )

Tool summary :

  • One of two tools for running parametrics that can add members, materials, bolts, holes, welds or metadata to the 3D model.
  • A parametric file is a Python script. If you Run Parametric to, for example, add a material to a member, you can then Rerun Parametric to automatically run that same parametric to update another member. And so on ...
  • Parametric files can also be used to manage and update metadata such as member status , or to read member or material or Job custom properties, or to edit member or material or Job custom properties:
  • SDS2 programs have a number of parametric files that are provided along with the software. They can be found in the macro/examples folder ( ).
  • See (on this page):

Also see :

   Step-by-step instructions for Run Parametric :

1 . Before using this tool:

You may want to open the parametric (Python script) with WordPad or a similar program to read any special instructions contained in the file. Lines marked with the pound symbol (#) are comments or special instructions.

You may want to set the output configuration for User and Site Options > Modeling > " Parametrics " to a particular directory where you store your parametric files. If you do so, then the Open window (which appears in step 3 ), will show the .py files in that directory.

  Directory:
D:/folder/subfolder

Confirm that the members to be operated on using the parametric file are displayed on screen. The member may be in stick form or any of the three solid forms . If the member is in stick form, it will be changed to solid opaque when the parametric material is generated.

You can Run a script that has Units("metric") in the startup code even when imperial " Units " are set in Drawing Presentation . Also, the reverse is true -- you can run an imperial script in a metric Job. However, to prevent rounding errors you may want to redo the script so that its units match the " Units " set in Drawing Presentation .

If the parametric (Python script) incorporates the MultiMemberLocate function, you can do a selection before running the script. In step 4, when Select Items mode mouse bindings are activated and you are prompted to select members, you can press the Enter key (or right-click and choose " OK ") to have the parametric use your pre-selection.

2 . To invoke Run Parametric , use any one (1) of the following methods:

Methods 1, 2 & 3 : Click the icon, or use a keyboard shortcut, or use the context menu. A Run Parametric icon can be added to your toolbar (classic) or ribbon (lightning). The icon, keyboard shortcut or context menu command can be found in the group named ' Model -- Parametric '. For lightning, Customize Interface is used to configure ribbons, keyboards, the context menu and modes.

Method 4 : If " Modeling layout style " is ' Classic ', you can use the menu system to choose Model > Parametric > Run .

Method 2 : Click the icon pictured above .

Method 3 : Use a keyboard shortcut (if one has been set up).

3 . The Open window appears. If you have not yet Run any scripts during this session of Modeling , the Open window displays the contents of the file folder specified in the output configuration for User and Site Options > Modeling > " Parametrics ." However, if that output configuration is set to report viewer , the Open window displays the macro directory found in your current Job . If you have previously Run parametric files during your current session of Modeling , the Open window displays the contents of the file folder from which the last parametric file was Run .

3a : Select the file that you want, then press the " Open " button.

Tip: The Open window defaults to showing only files with the .py extension. Check the box for " All Files " if the parametric file you want to Run does not have a .py extension.

4 . The script begins to be run, and you may be prompted to select members or locate points or fill out a dialog. After the script is done running, you get one of the following results:

Possibility 1 : The report viewer ( Output-Request Summary window) opens. This window indicates that an illegal entry exists in the parametric file or that you did something to cause the script to be run incorrectly. Press the " OK " button. Everything remains as it was before step 1.

Possibility 2 : The Python script did what it was designed to do (for example, added material, bolts, welds or construction lines or reported back particular member or material attributes).

Tip: If you don't like the way the newly added parametric members or material looks, you can use Erase Parametric to remove them from the model. Or you can just Delete them.

   Rerun Parametric :

Rerun Parametric runs the same parametric (Python script) that was last run, in your current session of Modeling , using Run Parametric .

1 . Click the Rerun Parametric icon, or use the context menu. The icon, keyboard shortcut or context menu command can be found in the group named ' Model -- Parametric '.

Rerun Parametric

Tip: You can use Toolbar Configuration to place this icon on your toolbar.

2 . One of following happens:

Possibility 1 : If you just did a Run Parametric or any number of subsequent Rerun Parametric operations, that same script that you selected (in step 3 ) will automatically be selected and begin to run again.

Possibility 2 : If you have not yet done a Run Parametric operation since starting Modeling , you will be prompted to select a parametric to run. Follow the instructions for Run Parametric , beginning with step 3 .