Variables
Named numeric inputs that let one assembly cover many cases — different thicknesses, coats, or waste factors.
Variables
Variables are named numeric inputs you can reference in component quantity expressions. They let one assembly cover many cases without copying it.
Two kinds
- System variables (40+ pre-seeded, shared across all companies) —
thickness,waste_factor,coverage_rate, etc. Read-only. - Custom variables (your company’s own) — create whatever you need.
Using variables in an assembly
- Switch to the Variables tab inside the Assemblies page.
- Browse the system list. To create a custom one, click + New Variable and fill in name, label, unit, and default value.
- In any assembly’s component expression, type
{and pick the variable from the dropdown. - When the assembly is applied, the user can override the default for that one application — without changing the assembly itself.
Real example
A “Painted wall” assembly with a {coats} variable (default 2) lets one assembly cover single-coat, two-coat, and three-coat work. The user picking the assembly just changes {coats} to 3 for the heritage job that needs the extra coat.
A “Reinforced Slab” assembly with a {thickness} variable can produce a 150 mm rate, a 200 mm rate, or a 300 mm rate — same assembly, different number at apply-time.
Why variables beat copies
Without variables, you’d need three slab assemblies — one per thickness — and three places to update if your concrete supplier raises prices. With a {thickness} variable, you maintain one assembly and pick the thickness when you apply it.