Understanding Parameters
- Last UpdatedNov 24, 2025
- 2 minute read
There are several different types of parameters available in PARAGON. Profile geometry components normally only use those defined for the profile, however, Design Parameters may be used.
Parameter Types
|
Type |
Description |
Structural Usage |
|
PARA |
Parameter |
Profiles, fittings, joint and penetrations |
|
DESP |
Design Parameter |
Profiles, fittings, joint and penetrations |
|
OPAR |
Owning Parameter |
Fittings, joints and penetrations |
|
APAR |
Attached Parameter |
Joints and penetrations |
|
ODESP |
Owning Design Parameter |
Fittings, joints and penetrations |
|
ADESP |
Attached Design Parameter |
Joints and penetrations |
Parameter Operations
Parameter values may be manipulated using mathematical operators to derive the appropriate value for the geometry component.
The following table shows the different operators available with query examples:
|
Operator |
Description |
Query Example |
Result |
|
+ |
add |
Q (10 + 10) |
20 |
|
- |
subtract or minus |
Q (10 – 20 – (100)) |
-110 |
|
* |
multiply |
Q (10 * 10) |
100 |
|
/ |
divide |
Q (10 / 10) |
1 |
|
SIN |
singe of angle (degrees) |
Q (sin (30)) |
0.5 |
|
COS |
cosine of angle (degrees) |
Q (cos (60)) |
0.5 |
|
TAN |
tangent of angle (degrees) |
Q (tan (45)) |
1 |
|
ASIN |
arc sine ( degrees) |
Q (asin (1)) |
90° |
|
ACOS |
arc cosine (degrees) |
Q (acos (-1)) |
180° |
|
ATAN |
arc tangent (degrees) |
Q (atan (1)) |
45° |
|
ATANT |
arc tangent of two lengths |
Q (atant (5, 2)) |
68.119° |
|
MIN |
minimum of two or more values |
Q (min (5, 4, 8)) |
4 |
|
MAX |
maximum of two or more values |
Q (max (1, 50, 1348)) |
1348 |
|
SQRT |
square root |
Q (sqrt (16)) |
4 |
|
POW |
raise to the power of |
Q (pow (2, 3)) |
8 |
|
ABS |
absolute value |
Q (abs (-156)) |
156 |
Parameter Syntax
Expressions in the structural application of Paragon require a specific syntax, for example, round parentheses are used in the expression to control the sequence of calculation, square parentheses are used to contain parameter numbers and there must be a space either side of a mathematical operator.
When the expression is entered, either via an appropriate form or via the command line, PARAGON re-evaluates the expression and it may appear different to the way it was entered if it is edited. Some typical expressions are:
(PARA [1] / 2)
(PARA [1] / 2 – PARA [4] – (PARA [2] / 2 – PARA [3] / 2) / 2 * TAN (8))
(OPAR [4] * COS (30))
(- OPAR [1] / 2 + APAR [4] + DESP [6])
(ODESP [1] / 2 – ADESP [1])