A connection describes the transfer of data between two data points.

A data point is a property of a model which can be probed and have its value set by or sent to another component of the simulation.

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Data Point Picker

The data point picker is the UI tool used to create connections.

Not all data points can be connected together. Data points are pre-filtered in the data point picker.

It is accessible everywhere in Dashboards.Image Removed

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Creating a Connection

To create a connection, click on the “+” icon in the sidebar, and mouse over the desired data point to connect to, where another “+” icon will appear. Click on it to create the connection.

The available connections are filtered based on their compatibility. See the Connections section above for more details.Image Removed

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Connecting Vector Data Points

Connecting vector data points and vector data point elements is done through the data point picker as well.

Vector data points can be differentiated from other data points by their picker button: Image Modified which has both data point picker button (left) and the expand/collapse button (right).

If there is a connection, this will also be displayed here as well (displaying count if there are multiple connections)

Expanding it will give the data point picker buttons of each vector element. Image Removed

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By selecting the Image Modifiedwe open the data point picker for the vector data point. The available data points are only vector data points of matching size.

By hovering on a row, a "+" button will show up and can be selected to create a new connection. The vector can also be opened for viewing.Image Removed

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By selected the "+" of one of the children of a vector data point, the data point picker open for that specific vector element.

The data points available are other vector elements (which can be viewed and selected by opening the collapsed vector data point parents) or widget data points.Image Removed

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A count is visible by parent data points (in vectors and in tree tables) to help keep track of connections. These can always be viewed in the Connection view as well.

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A data point can have many connections, but only the active connections change the data point’s value.

Also, note that one PARAMETER, INPUT or OUTPUT data point can have an active connection to more than one widget or input.

This means, for example, that a parameter can be connected to multiple widgets, but a widget can only have one active connection.Image Removed

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Deleting a Connection

Simply mouse over a connection to find the delete button.Image Removed

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Connection List

This list shows all active connections of a project and can be filtered and sorted.Image Removed

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Data Point Compatibility

Note that none of the following information is absolutely essential to know in order to use Dashboards and make connections between data points.

As mentioned previously, the data points list in the data point picker is pre-filtered, in order to offer the best user experience.

However, the following rules can be useful to understand why you’re only seeing certain data points when trying to make a connection.

A COMMANDcan be connected to a PARAMETERdata point.

In this type of connection, both ends receive updates and send updates to each other. Any number of COMMAND data points can be connected to a single PARAMETER data point. In this case, the latest available COMMAND value changes the PARAMETER value. COMMAND data points are found in command widgets (see the “Commands” section in the Libraries – Widgets Library).

A DISPLAYcan be connected to an INPUT, or an OUTPUTdata point.

In this type of connection, the DISPLAY data point receives updates from the data point it is connected to. Any number of DISPLAY data points can connect to a single PARAMETER data point. DISPLAY data points are found in display widgets (see the “Displays” section in the Libraries – Widgets Library).

Precisely, to be compatible, data points must: 

• Follow the rules of the compatibility table below (ex: OUTPUT → DISPLAY);

• Have a compatible data type (REAL, BOOLEAN);

• Have the same size if they are not a scalar;

• Not be in the same standard model or Simulink model;

• Not be already present in the “To” column (one connection).

• If connecting a vector element, it must be connected to either another vector element or a widget