I am new to solidworks and am trying to use my inventor modeling skills in solidworks...lol

I would like to know if there are parameter driven models in solidworks..I can explain by saying i have a list of named dimensions that would change from model to model..these cannot be configs of the same model but need to be independent.. as i create the sketch i would like to have the dimension = the parameters i have already created in the design study/parameters area...how or can this be done...

Thanks

Steven