Very simple FS question - dropdown for selecting from multiple variable sets

romeograham

I'm sure this is quite simple - but I'm having a hard time figuring it out on my own (extremely new to FeatureScript).

I would like to build on the strategy @Evan_Reese shows for an approach to global variables here to do the following:

I'd like to be able to pick from several standard specifications for a thing in a drop down in the UI. Then, based on the selection, different values would be assigned to my Variables.

If I select "Type 1" from the list, then the variables would be: A=1mm, B=1.5mm etc
If I select "Type 2" from the list, then the variables would be: A=2mm, B=3mm etc

Variables A, B are values from specification tables.

I understand how to create the variables and assign values etc...I imagine that I can easily create different sections in my FS that would have all the variables and their correct values. Something like this:

//Values for Type 1
v.A=1*mm;
v.B=1.5*mm;

//Values for Type 2
v.A=2*mm;
v.B=3*mm;

I don't know how to:

1. make the dropdown show up in my UI
2. do the if/then statement that would point Onshape to the correct values for the variables based on which item I pick from the Dropdown.

I know there are many custom FS built on this type of UI interface etc - but many are so complex (and create geometry etc) that I'm having a hard time finding code that I can emulate.

Thanks!
Romeo

MichaelPascoe

Here is a straight forward way to do this:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/811c8ce57220b55278be3a71/w/bfc85c80c8b7f510f5ffc0a5/e/e6510002f399feed4152872e

Here is a more advanced, but more efficient way to do the same thing, I learned this from @Alex_Kempen:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/811c8ce57220b55278be3a71/w/bfc85c80c8b7f510f5ffc0a5/e/596d7b61d9d6@Alex_Kempen

Remember, featurescript is very similar to JavaScript. If you watch some beginner tutorials for JS, it will help a lot. And of course, the forums are a great place too. Also, here is one of my earlier features that has lots of notes, it is not super efficient, but it has explanations: Topographinator

Creating a horizontal menu:

EvanReese

@MichaelPascoe
Thanks for the examples, I learned something new.

@romeograham
depending on your actual use-case, you may find that lookup tables are what you want. This is how the hole feature works to select your way down to the final hole spec by displaying different options depending on whether you pick ANSI or ISO and so on. I used this with the Captive Nut feature too. See the example from the official documentation here: https://cad.onshape.com/FsDoc/uispec.html

romeograham

Thanks guys!
@MichaelPascoe thanks for the examples. I appreciate the simple example! The simple version is certainly what I was imagining (a simple way to pick different sets of variables - where I'd explicitly assign all of the options). I'll try to see if I can figure out how to get the "better" example to work for me too.

@Evan_Reese I found lookup tables too - but couldn't figure out how to get another level of options to work. I see that you're using them in Captive Nut. I'll look carefully and try to learn what's going on.

Thanks again for the help - I really value the work that you guys have put in to learning this language and making such great Custom FS's!
Romeo

EvanReese

@romeograham
I'm glad you're getting into FS!