11.5 - Constraints and Linked Configurations

When a Linked Configuration is added to a Model, it is possible to send over information from one to another Model. In this lesson, we’re going through all the possible Constraints and show you how to calculate with them. With Linked configurations, the following Constraints are possible:

Edit Starting Value

Starting values send default values to the Linked configurations. Starting values can be edited by the user. With this Constraint you can define two Features from the Parent Model and the Linked Model. The Starting Value of the Linked Model will be determined by a Feature Value of the parent model. For example: You can configure a belt Conveyor. In the Parent Model, you specify that you need at least 5 belt conveyor of 10 meters. This is information which will be necessary in the Linked Model. With this Constraint, the information will be sent to the Linked Model, so that the user starts with the right values without having to fill in the same Values.

Edit Calculated Values

The Calculated values Constraint works in the same way as the Starting Value. You send a Value from the Parent Model to the Linked Model. But, with the Calculated Value, you cannot lower the value within the Linked Model. With a starting value, the value can be lowered and increased. A Calculated Value can not be lowered, but it can be increased. 

There are two different ways of setting a calculated value. Below are two descriptions on how to add Calculated Value.

Linked models separate - Constraint Calculated Value

1. Create a Feature in the main model that has a value.
2. Create a Feature in the linked model that takes this value and can only be adjusted upwards. 
3. From the main model, go to the edit button at a linked model.
4. Go to the Constraint Edit calculated value.
5. Choose the desired Feature from the main model at the select defining feature.
6. Then choose the desired Feature from the linked model at select target feature.

The Calculated Value has two options when adding it through this way. You can send over the Value of the node to the linked configuration. But there is also the option to send the accumulated price. The accumulated price option summarizes the total prices of all nodes below a certain node. When setting a Calculated Value you can also choose to send an Accumulated Price to the Linked Model instead of the value of the Node.  This is a very powerful option of Linked configurations. 

You can find more about this way through our documentation 

Calculated Value - Constraint on the node

You can also send over through the way you've learned in the basics training. After you have added a linked configuration to your configuration model, you have the option to use the Calculated Value constraint from the parent model to a linked model. With this option, you can work with formulas. Something you can't do with the option above. To set a calculated value you follow these steps:

1. Create a Feature in the main model that has a value.
2. Create a Feature in the linked model that takes this value and can only be adjusted upwards. 
3. From the main model, click on the Calculated Value behind the node.
4. Click on add advanced formulas
5. Click on add variables
6. Open the linked model and you can now calculate with nodes from the linked model.

You can also add a Calculated Value directly on the Node of the Parent model. When you add a variable you are able to also choose features from the linked configuration. You do this through the Linked Models button when you add a variable to the Calculated Value. 

Edit Reverse Calculated Values

The reverse calculations Constraint works in the same way as the previously explained Calculated Value, but with this Constraint you take the value of the Linked Model and transfer it to the parent model. As with the Calculated Values, you can define more than one Reversed Calculated Value from the Linked Model to the Parent Model.

Require and Excludes

The last two constraints you can set are the Require an Exclude constraint. These two work in the same way as you’ve learned in the basics training. With these Constraints you can set Requires and Excludes between the Parent Model and the Linked Model. 

With the Excludes you have an extra option. When you set an exclude, you can define if you want the excluded feature to be shown or not. You can do this by clicking on the eye icon that appears when the Constraint is set.

These are all the constraints you need to know when working with linked models. If you need any more information, you can also look at our Documentations page. On this page, you can find more information about Linked configurations and find many more articles about Elfsquad.