Use the Variables dialog box

You can use the Variables dialog box to manage the different variables in your calculation documents. The following paragraphs cover some useful features of the Variables dialog box.

Note:

To adjust the Variables dialog box, do the following:

In the Tedds Application:

On the Home tab, click Options.

The Options - Default dialog box opens.
Go to Dialogs.

In Tedds for Word:

In the Tools ribbon group, go to More > Tedds options.

The Options - Default dialog box opens.
Go to Dialogs.

Dimensions and units

Variables are stored in system base units, rather than the units which you specified in your calculation. Therefore, the Variables dialog box does not store units. Instead the Variables dialog box replaces units with the dimensions of the variable.

The following table illustrates the different dimensions of variables:


Variable dimensions
Symbol	Meaning
M	Mass
L	Length
T	Time
D	Temperature

The dimension symbols can be combined in different ways.

For example, the dimensions of a variable in kN or kips are MLT^-2.

Tip:

In order to view the variable in its original units and have it converted into all equivalent US and SI units, move and hold the cursor over the variable.

Variable attributes

The following table illustrates the different variable attributes. You can see them in the Attributes column.


Symbol	Meaning
e	The variable is stored as an expression.
r	The value cannot be overwritten.
m	The variable has been modified since the current calculation process started.

Sort variables

Sorting variables makes it easier to locate variables and values, and allows you to analyze variable data. You can, for example, verify that similar variables share the same dimensions and units.

To change the order in which the variables are displayed, click one of the columns.

The first click arranges the variables in ascending order.

A second click arranges the variables in descending order.

Tip:

To modify the sorting of variables, in the Options - Default dialog box, go to Dialogs > Variables.

Group variables

Grouping variables by column allows you to analyze variable data efficiently. You can, for example, group variables by value to find variables with the exact same values. To group variables, see the following instructions.

Right-click anywhere in the variable list.
In the context menu that appears, select Group by.
Select the column by which you want to group the variables.

Copy and paste variables

You can use the Copy and Paste buttons to copy variables:

From calc section to calc section
From document to calc section
From calc section to document
From system to calc section or document
FromTedds document to Tedds document
From Tedds for Word document to Tedds for Word document
From Tedds document to Tedds for Word document or vice versa