Parameters
Expose Print CAD variables to storefront customers with min/max ranges, step values, defaults, and display order.
The Parameters tab controls which Print CAD variables are exposed to storefront customers and how they behave. Each variable defined in the .pcad file (length, width, depth, allowance, etc.) appears as a row that you can configure with validation ranges, step increments, default values, and visibility settings.
Parameters drive the entire parametric experience — when a customer adjusts a dimension on the storefront, the parametric engine recalculates the dieline geometry, blank size, pricing, and 3D preview in real time.
Access Parameters
- Open any standard from the Custom Libraries list.
- Select the Parameters tab in the edit form.
Parameters Grid
The grid displays all variables from the Print CAD file. Rows can be reordered by dragging (the Variable column has a drag handle) to control the display order on the storefront.
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Variable | The variable name as defined in the Print CAD file (e.g., W, L, D). This is the internal identifier used in expressions and rules. Drag to reorder. |
| Min | Minimum allowed value for this parameter. The storefront enforces this limit when customers enter custom dimensions. |
| Max | Maximum allowed value for this parameter. Values above this are rejected by the storefront input validation. |
| Default | Initial value shown when a customer first views the product. Also used as the value when rendering SVG thumbnails in the admin. |
| Step | Increment for the parameter input. Controls the fractional precision — for example, a step of 0.125 allows eighth-inch increments. |
| Display Order | Numeric sort position for the parameter in the storefront UI. Lower values appear first. Can also be set by dragging rows. |
| Published | Checkbox controlling visibility. Published parameters appear on the storefront for customer input. Unpublished parameters are hidden from customers but still participate in calculations using their default value. |
| Action | Edit button to open the parameter detail dialog. Published toggle is also available inline. |
Edit a Parameter
Click the Edit action on any row to open the parameter dialog.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Friendly display name for the parameter (e.g., "Width", "Length", "Depth"). This label is shown to customers on the storefront. |
| Min | Minimum allowed value. Required. |
| Max | Maximum allowed value. Required. |
| Step | Increment size for the input control. Required. Determines the precision of customer input. |
| Default | Initial value when the product page loads. |
| Published | When checked, this parameter is visible to customers. When unchecked, the parameter uses its default value silently in all calculations. |
Associations
Print Store
| Area | Effect |
|---|---|
| Size selector | Published parameters appear as dimension inputs on the product page. Customers enter values within the min/max range using the configured step increment. The parametric engine validates input and recalculates the dieline in real time. |
| Pricing calculator | Parameter values feed directly into the blank size calculation. The ParametricHelper uses the current parameter values to compute the flat sheet dimensions, which drive material cost and pricing tier selection. |
| 3D widget | When parameters change, the category page's Three.js parametric widget re-renders the 3D packaging preview with updated geometry, showing customers how their dimension changes affect the final product. |
| Standard sizes | Each standard size is a preset combination of parameter values. When a customer selects a standard size, all parameters are set to the predefined values simultaneously. |
Print Editor
| Area | Effect |
|---|---|
| Canvas sizing | Parameter values determine the dieline panel dimensions rendered on the editor canvas. The DielinePanel objects are sized and positioned based on the resolved parametric geometry. |
Enterprise API
| Area | Effect |
|---|---|
| Order items (v2) | All parameter name/value pairs are included in the v2 order item response. The API also identifies static parameters (unpublished) separately, enabling external systems to distinguish customer-selected values from fixed configuration. |
Related Pages
- Standard Sizes — Create preset combinations of parameter values for quick selection
- Rules — Restrict invalid parameter combinations with user-facing messages
- Sandbox — Test parameter ranges with real-time SVG rendering and PDF export