Substituting Geometry Parts in a Study

For file global parameters, Design Manager allows you to specify a discrete list of parts or assemblies that it uses in your design exploration study. By using this feature in conjunction with a Replace Part operation, you can perform a study that considers multiple parts in addition to geometrical or simulation changes.

File path global parameters are supported for the following study types: manual, sweep, optimization, and DOE with Latin Hypercube. They are not supported for DOE 2 and 3 level full factorial and Stochastic studies.

To define a discrete list of parts that Design Manager should consider in the study:
  1. Right-click Design Studies > [design study] > Input Parameters and select Edit.
    1. In the dialog, click Add/Remove Parameter and select the file path global parameter.
    2. Click OK and Close.
  2. In the Properties window of the file global parameter, click (Custom Editor) next to Input File Directory and select the directory of the file location. You can also manually type the location of the file path.

    All part and assembly files should exist in one directory. If your design study is running on a cluster, be sure to add the accessible path to Input File Directory.
  3. To add multiple part or assembly files:
    1. Select the [FilePathGlobalParameter] > Discrete node.
    2. In the Properties window, click on the right of the Values node and either manually enter the file names or drag and drop files into the editor dialog.


    3. Alternatively, select the (Custom Editor) next to Values and multi-select files in the dialog.


      The Append file names is selected by default. If you unselect it then selected files overwrite existing values in the list.
  4. To review the Input File Directory and list of parts:
    1. Right-click Design Studies > [design study] > Input Parameters and select Edit.
    2. Click the (Custom Editor) in the Input File Directory column to change the location of the directory.
    3. Click the (Custom Editor) in the Values column to add more parts to the existing list.