Working with the Variable Browser

This section describes how to use the Variable Browser which is the main user interface for viewing the initial conditions and the results of a virtual execution .

The Variable Browser is displayed in the dock when you compute the initial conditions of a virtual execution or after a virtual execution has been launched. It displays details of the variables associated with the classes, components and connectors in the system you are modeling.

You can define a maximum number of Variable Browsers simultaneously displayed in Tools > Options... > Systems > Dynamic Behavior Modeling > Results. For more information, refer to Results.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:
  1. Open a Modelica model.
  2. Select Parameters Initial Value from the Execution toolbar. After computation, a list of the Initial conditions is added to the Variable Browser in the dock.
  3. Select Execute from the Execution toolbar. After execution, a list of the results is added to the Variable Browser in the dock.
Related Topics
Defining Execution Parameters Initial Conditions
Executing a Behavior

Hide and Display Columns

This section describes how to hide and display columns of a list in the Variable Browser.

  • Right-click any of the column headers in the list and then select from the following:

    • Hide Column: Hides the column you selected.
    • Show All Columns: Displays all columns.
    • Show Column > Value: Select Value (or another item) to display the item column.

    Note: Show Column is only visible when a column is hidden.

    Note: In the execution results list the Value column is hidden by default.

    The display of the columns is updated according to your selection.

View the Children of a Component

This section describes how to view or hide the children of a component in a list in the Variable Browser.

  1. Click + next to a name.

    The first level of children of the component are displayed.

    In this example of the execution results list, the value column has been displayed (see Hide and Display Columns) and revolute1 has been expanded to show the first level of children.

  2. Click - next to the name selected in the first step.

    The first level of children of the component is removed.

Sort the Contents of the Variable Browser

This section describes how to sort the contents of a list in the Variable Browser alphabetically. You can sort in ascending or descending order.

  1. Click the column header.

    An arrow appears in the column header; the results are now sorted in ascending alphabetical order.

  2. Click the column header again.

    The direction of the arrow reverses; the results are now sorted in descending alphabetical order.

Filter the Contents by Name

This section describes how to filter the contents of a list in the Variable Browser by parameter or variable name.

  1. In the Initial conditions list or the execution results list, type a word in the Filter box then press Enter.

    Note: You can use wildcards such as * to help define your search criteria. You cannot filter on the whole path of the node (for example, C1.v.*), you can only filter on the name of the node.

    The filtered results are displayed.

    In this example of the execution results list, the filter text box* results in boxBody1 and boxBody2 being displayed.



  2. Click Clear the filter .

    The filter is removed.

  3. Right-click the Description column header and then select Apply filter on this column.

  4. Repeat step 1.

    The filtered results are displayed. The filter has been applied to the Description column (look for in the column header).

    Note: By default, the filter is applied to the first column. If you want to apply the filter to a different column, click Clear the filter , right-click the column header you want to filter and then select Apply filter on this column.

Filter the Initial Conditions List by Type

This section describes how to filter the Initial conditions list in the Variable Browser by parameter type.

  1. In the Initial conditions list, click Show advanced filtering options .

    The filtering options (Fixed Parameters, Constant Parameters and Guess Parameters) are displayed.

  2. Apply your choice of filter:

    1. Select or clear the Fixed Parameters check box.

      When selected, fixed parameters are displayed.

    2. Select or clear the Constant Parameters check box.

      When selected, constant parameters are displayed.

    3. Select or clear the Guess Parameters check box.

      When selected, guess parameters are displayed.

  3. Click Clear the filter .

    The filter is removed.

Filter the Execution Results List by Type

This section describes how to filter the execution results list in the Variable Browser by variable type and time.

  1. In the execution results list, click Show advanced filtering options .

    The filtering options (Constants and Time-varying) are displayed.

    The Time box is displayed. This time corresponds to the elapsed time since the start of the simulation.



  2. Apply your choice of filter:

    1. Select or clear the Constants check box.

      When selected, constant variables are displayed.

    2. Select or clear the Time-varying check box.

      When selected, non-constant variables are displayed.

    3. Enter a value in the Time box and press Enter.

      The results at this time are displayed.

    Tip: During a virtual execution, when the Simulation Player toolbar is displayed, the time displayed in the Variable Browser is updated to match the current time of the Simulation Player toolbar. Conversely, if you change the value in the Time box in the Variable Browser, the current time of the Simulation Player is updated to the same value.

  3. Click Clear the filter .

    The filter is removed.