Sub-system

Screenshot

Sub-systems are containers for blocks and are used to make large models more manageable and understandable. As sub-system can contain other sub-systems hierarchies of sub-systems can be created.

Modules

By defining inputs and outputs a sub-system becomes a stand-alone module. Modules are reusable components that can be easily connected to quickly assemble new models. Modules can be added to and from the module library.

Matrix

The matrix of the model window benefits greatly from the use of sub-systems. A large model, with many compartments becomes difficult to handle if it is not divided into sub-systems. The matrix let you expand and collapse sub-systems, so that you can choose which sub-systems should be open. Once you have created a sub-system, you can expand it by clicking the button which appears when the mouse cursor is moved within the sub-system. The region of the expanded sub-system has a dark border and a title. To collapse the sub-system, click the button. To select a sub-system in the matrix it must be collapsed.

Creating sub-systems

A sub-system can be created in several ways:

From the Projects window

  • Expand the project folder. Right-click the Blocks node and select New | Sub-system. A new sub-system folder is added, and a corresponding sub-system will appear in the matrix of the model window. You can nest sub-systems by adding a sub-system into another.

From the Model window

  • Right-click an empty diagonal cell and select Sub-system from the pop-up menu, or

  • First add the object(s) that will make out the sub-system (blocks(s) and/or sub-system(s)). Select all the objects by selecting the first object, keeping SHIFT pressed and selecting the last object. The selected objects are highlighted in blue. Right-click and select Sub-system option from the pop-up menu. Now all added objects are put into the created sub-system.

Editing a sub-system

To edit a sub-system, right-click the sub-system in any window and select Edit. In the Blocks window, you can also show the block editor by selecting the block and clicking the Edit button, or by double-clicking the right-most “validation” column of the block.

The block editor has three tabs:

Properties

This page lets you edit basic properties such as name, and sub-system. See editing properties for more information.

Matrix

This page lets you edit the visual properties of the block in the Model window. See Editing matrix properties for more information.

Deleting sub-systems

When you delete a sub-system, all its contents – blocks and nested sub-systems - are deleted.

To delete a sub-system, right click the sub-system either in the Projects window or the Model window and select Delete from the pop-up menu. A dialog box will ask you if you want to remove the sub-system. Click Ok to confirm or Cancel to cancel this action.

See also