I have a simple little part- A tube with varying lengths. Trivial at first glance. Each length has it's on configuration- a no brainer. A few of the configs have a derived config for material. Still not a problem

I figured that I could easily set up the dimension using a Global Variable, "Length". The material is then simply a property selection.

However, it's at this point that things start to get confusing for me. First off, all the things I saw, specifically about creating a variable from a sketch dimension. There wasn't really anything said about using an extrude dimension. I did manage to create a design table. I think this is where I entered the values for my Global Variable. But if I configure my extrude Feature, it seems to want me to enter constant values for each config, without any reference to my variable. Does the design table drive the configuration, or vice versa? I think I got it to work, but I'm not sure of what I did.

Then I added a number of additional configurations for length. However, the design table did not update with these new configs.I ended up deleting the table and creating a new one.

When it came to adding materials, I configured them through the "materials" feature on the tree. However, that didn't seem to transfer to the design tree properly. Initially there was a materials property column, but it wasn't correct and didn't match what i had entered. Eventually, I discovered it created a second column at the right end of my table, which was correct. Not a bloody clue as to what's going on.

Now I'm trying to fill in some of the config specific text properties in the design table. The first row is there. But the other rows don't seem to want to save. I can type in the values, But when I close the table and open it again for editing, all the respective cells are empty again.. Grrrrr.

I am very comfortable working with Configurations, and I've used Global Variables and a design table once before. However, I am completely lost with all this.

Please see the attached model file for your viewing pleasure.

Can you guys please clarify things for me and get me straightened out? I've dug though most of the threads on the forums, but I haven't seen anything that is a simple and concise explanation of how Global Variables relate to design tables and how they relate to the config manager. Please suggest any links to pages & videos might be helpful.

This little part shouldn't be so difficult!

Thanks much!