# 5.790 - Basic expressions **URL:** \ **Category:** Release notes\ **Created:** [February 4, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058 "2025-02-04T15:38:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1

**Author:** ![Jeriz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/47e85d/32.png) [@Jeriz](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/Jeriz)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/1 "2025-02-04T15:38:02Z")

Bring more precision and flexibility to your designs with expressions. - **New** : Now you can use expressions to define parametric relationships with simple formulas, making it easier to create complex designs with precision. ![5.790-expressions](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/0/8029f51334118448f1589d8df7c61ac4842cdbfd.jpeg) ![5.790-expressions-expanded](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/8/2/82b634725cc887dfb085d79fa0d6d451a92ce8cd.jpeg) Visit our [Help Center](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/articles/18320182069916-Using-Expressions) to learn more. Try it out and share your thoughts in the comments below. ⬇ ---

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**Author:** ![arroniow](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/arroniow/32/30268_2.png) [@arroniow](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/arroniow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/3 "2025-02-04T15:46:56Z")

Yes! Will give it a try 😁 ---

**Author:** ![arroniow](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/arroniow/32/30268_2.png) [@arroniow](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/arroniow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/4 "2025-02-04T16:18:45Z")

Exciting step in the right direction, but I need somewhere to define the variable. Perhaps a section at the bottom of the ‘Items’ panel that allows variables to be set as a Decimal value ( A = 123, B = 3.1412, etc ) ![Screenshot 2025-02-04 161422](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/4/4/442206fc1ca941a298318a1ba3e10c989b24cf95.png) ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 4:52pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/5 "2025-02-04T16:52:38Z")

We can now copy and paste dimensions, sweet. It would be nice to copy paste dimensions from the Measurements Panel too. Polygon to create sides now has the same calculator, before no calculator just input straight up sides which I always thought was weird. Type in and mm at the same time. These are what I noticed. ---

**Author:** ![arroniow](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/arroniow/32/30268_2.png) [@arroniow](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/arroniow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/6 "2025-02-04T17:04:08Z")

I had not spotted the copy and paste. The message when trying to enter a variable is what has me excited. The fact that it is prompting to Create the variable. Its like having a christmas present with a window in the wrapping. Move and Rotate uses the new widget too!! That is useful for moving things precisely. In the pattern tool, being able to enter ‘angle/ the number of rotated shapes’ is useful. ---

**Author:** ![TheBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@TheBum](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/TheBum)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/7 "2025-02-04T22:57:48Z")

The units support is welcome, but we really need a way to assign variables. Looks like the underpinnings are there though. ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 2:22am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/8 "2025-02-05T02:22:45Z")

When I first saw the new calculator for a second I thought they gave us Memory Buttons. ---

**Author:** ![treyway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@treyway](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/treyway)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:28am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/9 "2025-02-05T06:28:18Z")

I seem to have lost the ability to enter feet and inches, like 1 1/4 inches, or 1 3/8 inches. What am I missing? ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:42am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/10 "2025-02-05T06:42:39Z")

(1 + 1 / 4) in or (1 + 1 / 3), put in or ft at the end 1 in + (1 / 3) ft or 1 ft + (1 / 3) in ---

**Author:** ![treyway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@treyway](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/treyway)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 6:56am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/11 "2025-02-05T06:56:37Z")

Thanks for the fast reply. I feel like something major changed, and I need to now go back and relearn how to use the software. Before today, I could adjust the size of a line in a sketch by clicking the size, and using the numbers and the / to create parts of an inch. Now I keep getting errors saying invalid operand. Can somebody point me to the place in the documentation that explains how to change the size of things, or move items a certain amount of distance. Thanks. ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:05am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/12 "2025-02-05T07:05:50Z")

> **[Using Expressions](https://support.shapr3d.com/hc/en-us/articles/18320182069916-Using-Expressions)** > > You can use expressions in Shapr3D to perform calculations directly in input fields, allowing for precise control over numerical values. Instead of manually entering fixed values, you can use mathe... I’m reading the Help Center myself right now. ---

**Author:** ![treyway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@treyway](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/treyway)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:07am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/13 "2025-02-05T07:07:52Z")

Thanks. Now, it would be great to understand why we lost the ease of entering values for things in an easy format, and now have to use parenthesis and such. I wonder if there was some advanced use case that I am ignorant of that makes this new method much better?? ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:23am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/14 "2025-02-05T07:23:20Z")

This aligns with how the other competitor does it. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/uploads/shapr3d/original/3X/a/c/ac71492e28c1c81b70108e47798ccf06091067c2.png) ---

**Author:** ![treyway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@treyway](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/treyway)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:29am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/15 "2025-02-05T07:29:46Z")

I was able to get it to work, but, what a pain, maybe this makes sense on a laptop or desktop, but on the ipad, that is extra work to just set a size, or move something a certain amount. So, the length of a side of a rectangle is now a function if I want it to be 1 3/8 inch? ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:38am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/16 "2025-02-05T07:38:39Z")

If you default is inches it’s just the same 1 + 3/8, if your default is feet and want inches (1+3/8)in. It looks lot better for the Imperial user because you can combined ft and in example 1 ft + (1 / 3) in ---

**Author:** ![treyway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@treyway](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/treyway)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:45am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/17 "2025-02-05T07:45:24Z")

yes, I was able to get it to work without parenthesis. Ok, so, we added several pencil strokes, one to get into the calculator window and then the + sign, but, I guess that is not too bad. I am having some glitches/bugs when tapping on things with the pencil on the iPad. ---

**Author:** ![SCALEMODEL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@SCALEMODEL](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SCALEMODEL)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 7:55am UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/18 "2025-02-05T07:55:45Z")

Ya your right why the extra click to get the Calculator not like the calculator fills up the whole screen on the iPad it should always be open. They should instead have a minimize button or toggle for people who like minimal. ---

**Author:** ![arroniow](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/arroniow/32/30268_2.png) [@arroniow](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/arroniow)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/19 "2025-02-05T17:04:51Z")

On PC it is a case of create the shape and one of the measurements has a blue highlight around the number. If you type on the Numpad the digits appear in that box. Press enter and it highlights the other dimension, ready to type digits. I think it will only be a tweak to the operation on the Ipad needed. ---

**Author:** ![SLomas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@SLomas](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/SLomas)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058/20 "2025-02-05T22:28:16Z")

This is not a helpful way to enter Imperial dimensions, and the examples suggest that the writer doesn’t normally use them (eg, “1 in + (1 / 3) ft” and “1 ft + (1 / 3) in” are both highly unlikely in practice). I routinely use metric to design plastic parts, but imperial to design with dimensional lumber. Expressions could be helpful when I need 2’ 3 57/64" + 1 3/4", but I need to be able to enter it just like that. Imperial is convenient when used as intended, but it does not fit a Metric usage model. [Next page](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/5-790-basic-expressions/36058.md?page=2)