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Introduction
This guide serves as a streamlined introduction to using IOs interfaces in OPAL-RT Dashboards, including how to automatically update existing models; more details on the migration process that introduces these interfaces can be found in /wiki/spaces/RD/pages/496632163. A basic familiarity with RT-LAB will be assumed, but you can read more about RT-LAB on our public user documentationhttps://opal-rt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PRD or sign up for our free online learning platform.
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Models using S-functions, such as eHS and legacy models, are configured directly within Simulink and will not be affected by this update. I/O S-Functions are not compatible with OPAL-RT Dashboards I/O Interfaces. |
Setting RT-LAB IO Interfaces
As with previous versions of RT-LAB, start by selecting your I/O Interface type directly in RT-LAB I/O Interfaces. The full range of All communication protocols available in the RT-LAB I/O interfaces Interfaces are supported with Dashboards and a detailed list is provided herein Dashboards, but S-functions in Simulink models are incompatible. Please refer to the wiki for detailed information RT-LAB | I/O Block Library Reference Guide. The RT-LAB I/O interface defines the communication protocol used (EG: Analog I/O, Digital I/O, Modbus, DNP3, etc.) and the general settings for that protocol.
You can test the new I/O interface using an existing RT-LAB model or the integration model delivered with your system: Using Your your Integration Model with IOs .
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Right-click “I/O Interfaces” in the project folder and select “New I/O Interfaces”
Select your desired interface (such as “OPAL-RT Boards”) and select a name
Configure your I/O Interface as desired
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Adding Dashboards IO Interfaces
Now that you have selected your desired I/O Interface in RT-LAB, you can add the Dashboards IO Interface. In RT-LAB 2025.1 and above, this is added automatically and you can move on to the next section. In RT-LAB 2024.4 and below, you can add Dashboards IO Interfaces to a new or existing model using the automatic conversion tool. The steps and a video of the process are below:
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RT-LAB will automatically guide you through the update process and create a backup of your project. You can read more about the process on the RT-LAB wiki: Try new Migration to I/O Interfaces.
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Once the Dashboards IO Interfaces have been added, it will automatically sync changes in the RT-LAB I/O Interface once they are saved. |
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Connecting Model IOs to Interfaces
With the Dashboards IO Interface added, you can now configure your model’s IO connections using OPAL-RT Dashboards.
Introduction to
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Dashboards IO Interface UI
To open Dashboards, double-click on the “Dashboards” tab in the Project Explorer window. This will launch the Dashboard Dashboards UI which is shown below and divided into four sections:
Top Bar: The menu bar allows you to configure preferences, change the UI’s appearance, view documentation, and contact support. By default, nothing needs to be adjusted here to utilize I/O Interfaces. Full details are available here: https://opal-rt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PDASH/pages/68126658/Menus+and+Navigation+Pane#Top-Bar
Navigation Pane: The navigation pane allows you to select the different Dashboards tools, in this case, we will only use “Interfaces”. Full details about the other features are available here: https://opal-rt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PDASH/pages/68126658/Menus+and+Navigation+Pane#Navigation-Pane
Model Control: RT-LAB models can be run and reset directly through Dashboards using the play and stop buttons. Full details are available here: Synchronizing with RT-LAB
I/O Interfaces Table: The I/O Interfaces Table automatically synchronizes the I/O Interfaces in RT-LAB I/O Interfaces, allows you to map model outputs and inputs with specific I/Os similarly to the deprecated Configuration tab. The next section will describe how to map those connections, and full details are available here: IO Interfaces
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Mapping Model Outputs and Inputs to Interfaces
The Dashboard Dashboards IO Interfaces map signals from your model to the physical connections on your OPAL-RT Simulators. The steps below provide an overview of the process, accompanied by a detailed example where Digital Outputs / Inputs are implemented.
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The view selector is available at the top of the Interfaces page 
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Navigate to the desired I/O connection and click the “[+]” option to link the I/O connection to a model data point.
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You are done! Run your model and view your results!
Model Migration Support
If your model does not import correctly or there are any errors with the migration process, please check if your model has a known issueerrors reported in the migration report: https://opal-rt.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PRD/pages/641106066/TryMigration+newto+I+O+Interfaces#KnownInterfaces#Migration-issuesfailure
You can also access the public Knowledge Base articles on our website for useful resolutions to common issues: https://www.opal-rt.com/support-knowledge-base/
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