Fundamentals > Relations and Parameters > Relations > Operators and Functions Used in Relations > Passing

Strings as
Arguments in Relations

Passing Strings as Arguments in Relations

The following functions allow you to pass strings as arguments:
• string_length()—Returns the number of characters in a parameter. For example, if the
value for the string parameter material is defined as steel, string_length(material)
equals 5, because the word "steel" has five letters.
• rel_model_name()—Returns the current model name. For example, if you are currently
working in a part called A, rel_model_name() is equal to A. To use this in a relation in
an assembly, write the relation as follows:
name = rel_model_name:2()

The parentheses ( ) are empty.

• rel_model_type()—Returns the current model type. If you are working in Assembly

mode, rel_model_type() is equal to assembly.
• exists()—Evaluates whether an item, such as a parameter or dimension, exists. This
can apply to the model for which the relation is being evaluated, or to any model,
component, or submodel structure.
For example:
◦ if exists("d5:20")—Checks if the model with runtime ID 20 has a dimension d5.
◦ if exists ("par:fid_25:cid_12")—Checks if the feature ID 25 in the component ID
12 has parameter par.
This allows evaluation to be based on a parameter that exists in only one part of a large
assembly. For example, suppose that there are several systems in a large assembly (such
as hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical systems), but the majority of objects belong to no
system.

In this case, to make evaluations that are based on the parameter, you must assign the
appropriate parameter to those models that belong to the system. For example, if items
in the electrical system must use a part number in the BOM report table, instead of the
model name, you can create a report parameter bom_name and write the following
relation:
ifexists("asm_mbr_cabling")
bom_name = part_no
else
bom_name = asm_mbr_name
endif
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