Model Explorer

Model Explorer

Figure 68: The Model Explorer

The Model Explorer is useful when working with large circuits, and when a circuit contains supercomponents. It provides another representation of the circuit in tree form, displaying all the components and lines that the circuit contains.

Figure 69: A supercomponent in the Model Explorer

It is particularly useful for supercomponents, which can be explored directly, displaying all the components they are composed of.

Using the Model Explorer

• The Model Explorer is synchronized with the sketch. Click on a component in the Model Explorer and it is highlighted in the sketch, click on a component in the sketch and it is highlighted in the Model Explorer.

• You can right-click a component in the Model Explorer and select Center on selection to move sketch to display that particular component. If that component is part of a supercomponent, the Supercomponent Editor window automatically opens to display the selected component.

• In Submodel mode, you can double-click a component in the Model Explorer to open the Submodel list.

• In Parameter mode, you can double-click on a component in the Model Explorer to open the Change parameter dialog box.

• In Simulation mode, you can double-click on a component in the Model Explorer to open the Variable List dialog box.

• You can sort on the Submodel or on the Alias column, and you can edit a submodel alias directly in the Model Explorer.

• In Parameter and Simulation modes, a right-click allows you to open a supercomponent.

• You can make multiple selections in the Model Explorer with the Ctrl button on your keyboard. In this way, you can view common parameters, lock and unlock states, and set the Save variable status for several components, as you would in the sketch area.

The Model Explorer search function

The Model Explorer provides a search function. To simplify finding a submodel in your circuit, you can enter a name in the search field and click the search button .

For example, to locate any mass submodels, you would enter mass* in the search field. When you click the search button, the results are displayed in the Model Explorer:

You can use wildcards in your search, as follows:

• ?: A question mark can replace any single character in your search string. For example, placing ?? in your search string means the search will use the wildcard for two characters in the search string.

• *: An asterisk replaces zero, one or more of any characters in your search string.

• [...]: Sets of characters can be represented in square brackets.

More button Model Explorer

The More button gives you access to the following options:

• Match case: Make the search string case sensitive.

• Use regular expressions: Enable the use of regular expressions during the search. For more information on regular expressions, please see here.

• Model Explorer reset filter

To clear a search string, click the Reset filter button .

The Model Explorer filter function

Parameters and variables can have tags attached to them. You can then use the model explorer to filter the display of these tags.

Figure 70: Tags in the Model Explorer

Use the checkboxes to toggle the display of the following elements:

• Components

Hide components without parameters

with all default parameters: Use this checkbox to display only components which contain default parameters.

with parameters: Use this checkbox to display any components containing parameters.

without parameters: Use this checkbox to display any components that contain no parameters.

• Parameters and variables

Use the checkboxes to display only those elements containing the listed tags. This function can be used in conjunction with the Search function, so that the filter can be applied only to elements discovered by the search.

Managing tags

Tags

In the Change Parameters and Variable List windows, as well as in the Parameters and Variables views, the Tags column allows you to apply tags to selected parameters and variables, manage existing tags, and create your own tags.

Figure 71: Tags

• To apply a tag, click in the Tags column and select from the list of available tags. When a tag is applied, a tick mark is displayed on the colored tag in the list: .

• You can attach multiple tags to a component or variable: .

• Manage Tags

To manage the list of tags, click in the Tags column and select Manage tags. The Manage Tags dialog box opens: Figure 72: The Manage Tags dialog box

Here, you can edit colors and titles, remove existing tags, and create your own tags.

Edit tag color: Click on the color box to open a list of available colors, from which you can select a new color for the tag.

Edit tag label: Enter your text directly in the text field.

New tag: Click the New colored tag button to add a new tag to the list.

A new field is added to the list, you can select a color and add a label for the tag. To confirm the addition, click the green tick mark. To cancel the new tag, click the red X.

Delete a tag: Click the button to delete a tag from the list.

Warning

Operations in the Manage Tags window are only applied when you click OK.