Parameters

InPUT supports two categories of parameters: numeric and structured parameters. Numeric parameters are analogous to primitive data types in some programming languages. Structured parameters are analogous to objects in some programming languages. Numeric parameters are defined using a finite set of types. This further sub-divides them based on type. Supported types include multiple integer and floating point types of various precision/width, as well as a boolean type. Structured parameters can have arbitrary, user-defined types. The only built-in type for structured parameters is the String type, which represents character strings.

There also exists a sub-category of structured parameters, called choices. A choice is a structured parameter that has an overloaded role. A choice can be used as a special structured parameter that is defined using a set of possible types. It can also be used to define a structured parameter with a set of possible values.

The second option is really a special case of the first, with the type being the same for all choices.

All parameters can be defined as arrays.

Parameters are defined in a design space XML configuration. All parameters must have a legal ID, and all parameters can optionally be fixed. However, what it it means for a parameter to be fixed depends on the kind of parameter.