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Build a rule set to define constraint limits in your Inventor model.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Transcript
00:03
When creating an Informed Design product definition in Inventor,
00:07
once you have your source content defined and the parameters set in the order you want them,
00:11
you can author the rules you want to use in your product definition.
00:15
Informed Design uses Google Blockly for authoring rules.
00:19
Blockly is a library from Google for building beginner-friendly, block-based programming languages.
00:25
In the Product Definition dialog, on the Rules tab, you can see the rules workspace toolbox on the left.
00:32
The toolbox has a variety of blocks, sorted into categories, such as Logic, Math, Variables, and Functions.
00:41
Click each of these categories to see the blocks you can use in this rule set.
00:46
Ultimately, these allow you to control how the blocks work and what functionality is needed to create your block rules.
00:53
The middle area comprises the workspace canvas, where you define constraints for product customization.
00:60
In this example, there are some constraints defined already.
01:04
There are also tools on the right side of the canvas to help you zoom in or out, or delete blocks.
01:10
You can also drag blocks to the backpack to save them for reuse.
01:15
On the right-hand side, the Form preview lists the adopted parameters in the order defined.
01:20
Values can be entered and edited in these controls to test and preview behavior enforced by rules in the canvas.
01:29
Use the synchronization controls at the top of the Form preview to: update the form, reset to defaults,
01:37
get model values from the Inventor model, or reconfigure the Inventor model using parameter values in the Form preview.
01:46
To create a new rule, simply drag a block into the canvas.
01:51
For this example, click Parameters to see the blocks you can use in this rule set.
01:56
Drag the Height block to the top of the canvas.
01:59
Drag the scroll bar if you need more room.
02:02
Now click Math to see the available blocks.
02:06
Notice that each block resembles a puzzle piece.
02:09
Drag the top Value block and drop it directly onto the corresponding space in the Height parameter on the canvas.
02:16
The Height entry in this block corresponds to the Height entry in the Form preview.
02:22
In the block, you can use the drop-down list to change any entry, if needed.
02:27
For this example, change the Value to minimum, and then enter a value of 20.
02:32
Click Update form, and now the Form preview displays min 20 under the Height parameter.
02:38
In the Form preview Height parameter, enter a value of 18, and then press Enter.
02:44
The value is rounded up to 20, as that is the minimum value that you set for this parameter.
02:50
Click the Information icon to see a more detailed explanation.
02:55
To create your next block, you can use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy and paste the Height block.
03:01
Drag the copy and connect them together.
03:05
You may hear a click to confirm the connection.
03:08
For this block, change the Value to maximum, and then set the value to 90.
03:13
Update the form again, and now the rule under Height displays as 20 to 90.
03:19
Only values between 20 and 90 are accepted for this parameter.
03:24
To change an allowed min or max value, simply update the block with the new value,
03:29
and then click Update form in the Form preview.
03:33
Copy and paste the block two more times to create Width parameters with a min value of 20 and a max value of 46.
03:41
Update the Form preview again, and you can see the rules update.
03:45
Instead of minimum and maximum rules, you can try out some of the other options, such as increment, readOnly, or message.
03:54
By setting up the rules here and publishing, you allow the user to bring the model into the Revit environment
03:59
with these controls as constraint limits set by the product manufacturer.
04:04
To test your rules, from the Synchronization controls,
04:07
click Set model values to update your Inventor model.
04:11
After a moment, you can see the model update in the graphics window.
04:15
With your source content defined, parameters set, and rules authored,
04:20
click Save to save your product definition locally.
Video transcript
00:03
When creating an Informed Design product definition in Inventor,
00:07
once you have your source content defined and the parameters set in the order you want them,
00:11
you can author the rules you want to use in your product definition.
00:15
Informed Design uses Google Blockly for authoring rules.
00:19
Blockly is a library from Google for building beginner-friendly, block-based programming languages.
00:25
In the Product Definition dialog, on the Rules tab, you can see the rules workspace toolbox on the left.
00:32
The toolbox has a variety of blocks, sorted into categories, such as Logic, Math, Variables, and Functions.
00:41
Click each of these categories to see the blocks you can use in this rule set.
00:46
Ultimately, these allow you to control how the blocks work and what functionality is needed to create your block rules.
00:53
The middle area comprises the workspace canvas, where you define constraints for product customization.
00:60
In this example, there are some constraints defined already.
01:04
There are also tools on the right side of the canvas to help you zoom in or out, or delete blocks.
01:10
You can also drag blocks to the backpack to save them for reuse.
01:15
On the right-hand side, the Form preview lists the adopted parameters in the order defined.
01:20
Values can be entered and edited in these controls to test and preview behavior enforced by rules in the canvas.
01:29
Use the synchronization controls at the top of the Form preview to: update the form, reset to defaults,
01:37
get model values from the Inventor model, or reconfigure the Inventor model using parameter values in the Form preview.
01:46
To create a new rule, simply drag a block into the canvas.
01:51
For this example, click Parameters to see the blocks you can use in this rule set.
01:56
Drag the Height block to the top of the canvas.
01:59
Drag the scroll bar if you need more room.
02:02
Now click Math to see the available blocks.
02:06
Notice that each block resembles a puzzle piece.
02:09
Drag the top Value block and drop it directly onto the corresponding space in the Height parameter on the canvas.
02:16
The Height entry in this block corresponds to the Height entry in the Form preview.
02:22
In the block, you can use the drop-down list to change any entry, if needed.
02:27
For this example, change the Value to minimum, and then enter a value of 20.
02:32
Click Update form, and now the Form preview displays min 20 under the Height parameter.
02:38
In the Form preview Height parameter, enter a value of 18, and then press Enter.
02:44
The value is rounded up to 20, as that is the minimum value that you set for this parameter.
02:50
Click the Information icon to see a more detailed explanation.
02:55
To create your next block, you can use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy and paste the Height block.
03:01
Drag the copy and connect them together.
03:05
You may hear a click to confirm the connection.
03:08
For this block, change the Value to maximum, and then set the value to 90.
03:13
Update the form again, and now the rule under Height displays as 20 to 90.
03:19
Only values between 20 and 90 are accepted for this parameter.
03:24
To change an allowed min or max value, simply update the block with the new value,
03:29
and then click Update form in the Form preview.
03:33
Copy and paste the block two more times to create Width parameters with a min value of 20 and a max value of 46.
03:41
Update the Form preview again, and you can see the rules update.
03:45
Instead of minimum and maximum rules, you can try out some of the other options, such as increment, readOnly, or message.
03:54
By setting up the rules here and publishing, you allow the user to bring the model into the Revit environment
03:59
with these controls as constraint limits set by the product manufacturer.
04:04
To test your rules, from the Synchronization controls,
04:07
click Set model values to update your Inventor model.
04:11
After a moment, you can see the model update in the graphics window.
04:15
With your source content defined, parameters set, and rules authored,
04:20
click Save to save your product definition locally.
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