Building parametric library for steel beams

Question

Hi All, 
 I'm trying to build a parametric steel beam cell library in order to improve productivity. 
 My first profile works perfectly when it comes to 2D. I can switch between all the variations - No problem. 
 When it comes to make the cross section of the beams into 3D I'm running into problems. I have no problems in extruding the 2D profile into a 3D beam in the cell library but when using the 3D extruded beam from the cell library in my design file, I can't modify the length. It seems that 3D is some kind of static when it is inserted as a cell, though I can switch between the different variations but the length is static. 
 I can see the Length variable in the Properties dialog, but I can't change the value even though the input field isn't grayed out. 
 I have been trawling through similar questions in this forum but haven't found anything that could solve this issue 
 
 My best guess is that I'm missing something. The question is then - What is it that I'm missing ? 
 
 Thanks in advance 
 Ole Bro

David Trejo-Rodriguez · Answer

Took a look at the file and while it appears you have a variable for the length of the beam it is not assigned to the extrusion distance of the parametric solid see: 
 
 You can assign the variable through the properties dialog.

Florian S. · Answer

I think I found what is wrong in addition to the assignment of the length, which David already mentioned correctly. 
 Your first Variation in the cell library is the HE100B and this one has a value of "0,000mm" for the length. This causes the parametric solid to fail, when placing the cell in a design file. I think MicroStation starts with the placement with the first variation available, so trying to extrude a length of zero. 
 If you change the length value of the variant it should work fine, at least it did for me when testing it. 
 
 Some pictures to indicate what is happening. 
 The zero value in the library of the first variant:

Failure messages when placing the cell:

David Trejo-Rodriguez · Answer

can you share the cell library for review? 
 Ole Bro said: I can see the Length variable in the Properties dialog, but I can't change the value even though the input field isn't grayed out. 
 In the meantime you might want tot check the Scope of the variable in the cell library, see: 
 https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/MicroStation%20Help-v19/en/VariableManager.html

Ole Bro · Answer

Florian, Thank you for showing me that it can work. It is exactly what I want to achieve, but I haven't been able to do it. 
 One thing I have wondered about is if there is any settings in Microstation that I haven't since I can't do what you are showing? 
 Anyway, I'm grateful that you have shown that I'm on the right path and that the Parametric cell works exactly as I have anticipated. Now I need to dig in to find out why it doesn't work as you have shown in my Microstation. 
 [UPDATE] I have succeeded in modifying the parametric cell. The problem was my test file. It was in someway "dirty" and remembered the Cell library Florian pointed out contained an error. 
 When I opened a new design file and tested the Parametric Cell library, it worked flawlessly. 
 Thank you Y'all for input.

Building parametric library for steel beams

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