Create, Edit, and Import/Export Variables Using the Variable Manager

Use the Variable Manager to edit variables, create new variables, and import or export variables in .csv format.

  1. On the Home ribbon, select the Variables tool.
    The Variable Manager is displayed.

  2. You can do the following:
    Important: A variable’s name may not be a math operator, numeric value, mathematical constant, reserved Python keyword, or a unit specifier. The name may include underscores (_), but no spaces or other special characters.

    When working with .stmod or .csv files created prior to version 2024, unsupported variable names will be changed, and you will need to correct expressions with dependencies.

    To Do this Notes
    Import variables from a .csv file Click . The required format is name,expression,type,comment where type can be l (length), a (angle), unitless, velocity, acceleration, ang_velocity, ang_acceleration, damping, stiffness, torsion_stiffness, torsion_damping etc. You can find available unit types by exporting a .csv file; all available units are written in the .csv as comment.
    Note: By default, when you import variables, they are merged with any existing variables. To clear existing variables on import, in the Variable Manager dialog box, from the hamburger menu, turn on Clear Variables on Import.
    Export variables to a .csv file Click .
    Delete one or more variables
    1. Select one or more variables.
    2. Click .
    Add a new variable
    1. Select an empty Name field or click , enter a name, and then press Enter.
      Important: The Name field may not be left blank.
    2. In the Value/Expression column, enter a numerical value, or specify a dependent relationship between variables, e.g. OtherVariable*2. Basic math operators (+,-,/,*) and standard Python mathematical functions are accepted.

      Inspire Form automatically populates the Result field.

    3. Optional: In the Comments column, enter any relevant notes.
    		 If you specify units for a Length variable, e.g. 1.0 cm, then Inspire Form will express the Result in the selected Display Units, e.g. 10 mm.

    You can use trigonometric functions in Expressions. The input value must be unitless or angle. If it is unitless, the value of it is interpreted as radians. For example, X = pi/2 (unitless) and Y = 10*sin(X) or X = 90 deg and Y = 10 * sin(X) or Y=10*sin(pi/2) or Y=10*sin(90 deg)

    A variable’s Expression may not reference itself.

    Circular dependencies, e.g. where the Expression for L1 refers to L2, the Expression for L2 refers to L3, and the Expression for L3 refers to L1, are not supported.

    Edit a variable Select the field you wish to edit and enter the new information.
    Edit a material variable Click Edit Material Variable and select the materials you want to include in the variable.

    To change the material variable value, click the Result dropdown and select a new material.

Tip:
  • Units are automatically assigned based on context. If no units are specified for a new length variable, units are assigned based on the Unit Selector’s current setting. Hundreds of unit types are supported. Derived units result from the combination of the base units (e.g., kg*m/s^2 will result in Newtons).
  • Trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, hyperbolic, and inverse hyperbolic functions are available.