Signal Editor

Display, create, edit, and switch interchangeable scenarios

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Libraries:
Simulink / Sources

Description

The Signal Editor block displays, creates, and edits interchangeable scenarios, which contain signals. Signals can be:

• A MATLAB^® timeseries object

• A structure of MATLAB timeseries objects

• A two-dimensional matrix

The block creates one port for each signal.

To create and edit scenarios and the signals contained in the scenarios, click Launch Signal Editor (). You can also use the Signal Editor block to switch scenarios in and out of models.

The Signal Editor block supports MAT files that contain signals as one or more scalar Simulink.SimulationData.Dataset objects.

Create and Edit Scenarios and Signals

To create and edit scenarios and the signals contained in them, start the Signal Editor tool by clicking . The Signal Editor tool enables you to easily manipulate signals in these ways:

• Create and edit multiple signals in multiple data sets. By default, Signal Editor creates timeseries format data.

• Use signal notations to create more complicated signals using MATLAB® expressions. You can use the Author and Insert dialog box or manually enter simple MATLAB expressions in the tabular area.

• Use existing scenarios to get existing data sets for which you can edit and create signals.

• Create and edit multidimensional signals.

For more information on the Signal Editor tool, see Create and Edit Signal Data.

Programmatic Interactions

To programmatically get the total number of scenarios and signals in the Signal Editor block, use the get_param NumberOfScenarios and NumberOfSignals properties. These properties contain the values as character vectors. To convert these values to doubles, use the str2double function.

To programmatically enable the Signal Editor block to label output signal lines, set the set_param PreserveSignalName to 'on' (default). For example:

set_param(gcb,'PreserveSignalName','on')

For more information on programmatic interactions, see Replace Programmatic Use of signalbuilder.

Import and Export

The Signal Editor supports custom file types, such as Microsoft^® Excel^®, by letting you:

• Edit signals imported from registered custom file types. For more information, see Import Custom File Type.

• Export signals from Signal Editor to your registered custom file types. For more information, see Export Signals to Custom Registered File Types.

Migrating from Signal Builder Blocks

You can port Signal Builder block configurations to the Signal Editor block using the signalBuilderToSignalEditor function. For more information, see Replace Signal Builder Block with Signal Editor Block and Migrate from Signal Builder Block to Signal Editor Block.

Fast Restart

The Signal Editor block supports fast restart. With fast restart enabled, you can still:

• Change the active scenario.

• Change the active signal.

  While you can change the active signal, you cannot edit the signal properties in the block.

• Start the Signal Editor user interface and edit data.

Examples

Parallel Simulations Using Parsim: Test-Case Sweep

Run multiple Simulink® simulations corresponding to different test cases in the Signal Editor block using SimulationInput objects and the parsim command. The parsim command uses Parallel Computing Toolbox™, if it is available, to run simulations in parallel, otherwise the simulations are run in serial.

Open Model

Parallel Simulations Using Parsim: Parameter Sweep in Rapid Accelerator Mode

Run multiple simulations of a Monte Carlo study in parallel by using Parallel Computing Toolbox™. Parallel execution leverages the multiple cores of your host machine to run many simulations more quickly. These simulations could also be run in parallel on computer clusters using the MATLAB Parallel Server™. This example will work even if the Parallel Computing Toolbox™ or the MATLAB Parallel Server™ is not available, but the simulations will run in serial.

Open Model

Model an Automatic Transmission Controller

Model an automotive drivetrain with Simulink®. Stateflow® enhances the Simulink model with its representation of the transmission control logic. Simulink provides a powerful environment for the modeling and simulation of dynamic systems and processes. In many systems, though, supervisory functions like changing modes or invoking new gain schedules must respond to events that may occur and conditions that develop over time. As a result, the environment requires a language capable of managing these multiple modes and developing conditions. In the following example, Stateflow shows its strength in this capacity by performing the function of gear selection in an automatic transmission. This function is combined with the drivetrain dynamics in a natural and intuitive manner by incorporating a Stateflow block in the Simulink block diagram.

Open Model

Limitations

The Signal Editor block does not support:

• Function-calls

• Ground signals

The Signal Editor block supports dynamic strings. It does not support strings with maximum length. In addition, strings in the Signal Editor block cannot output:

• Non-scalar MATLAB strings.

• String data that contains missing values.

• String data that contains non-ASCII characters.

Ports

Output Arguments

Signal1 — Signals in scenario

scalar | vector | matrix | array

One or more signals, returned as a scalar, vector, matrix, or array. The block creates one port per signal.

The port label depends on the associated variable in the data set MAT file.

Data Types: single | double | half | int8 | int16 | int32 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | string | Boolean | fixed point | enumerated | bus

Parameters

To create and edit scenarios, launch Signal Editor user interface — Option to start Signal Editor

button

To start the Signal Editor user interface, click Launch Signal Editor .

Programmatic Use

To start the Signal Editor user interface, use the signalEditor function.

File name — Data set file

untitled.mat (default) | character vector

Data set file, specified as character vector, containing one or more scalar Simulink.SimulationData.Dataset objects. Do not use a file name from one locale in a different locale. When using the block on multiple platforms, consider specifying just the MAT file name and having the MAT file be on the MATLAB path.

Dependencies

• If untitled.mat does not exist in the current folder, these parameters are disabled:

  • Active scenario

  • Signals

  • Output a bus signal

  • Unit

  • Sample time

  • Interpolate data

  • Enable zero-crossing detection

  • Form output after final data value by

• To create a MAT file, click . This button starts the Signal Editor user interface, which lets you create and edit scenario MAT files.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Filename

Type: character vector

Values: character vector

Default: 'untitled.mat'

Active scenario — Active scenario

Scenario (default) | character vector

Active scenario, specified as a character vector. The specified MAT file must exist. You can switch the active scenario as necessary.

If you create this block by using the signalBuilderToSignalEditor function or the Check model for Signal Builder blocks Upgrade Advisor check to convert a Signal Builder block to a Signal Editor block, the active scenario name is the dataset variable name in the MAT-file. However, if you pause on this parameter, the original Signal Builder group name is displayed.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ActiveScenario

Type: character vector | numeric

Values: character vector | index value

Default: 'Scenario'

Active signal — Signal to configure

Signal 1 (default) | character vector

Signal to configure, specified as a signal name. This signal is considered the active signal. The MAT file must exist before you can configure signals.

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Tip

Do not use the set_param function to set the active signal property name-value argument ('ActiveSignal') in combination with another Name-Value pair argument for the Signal Editor block.

Dependencies

This parameter has no effect when the Apply signal properties to all signals parameter is selected.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ActiveSignal

Type: character vector | numeric

Values: character vector | index vector

Default: 'Signal 1'

Apply signal properties to all scenarios — Option to apply specified signal properties to active signal

on (default) | off

Option to apply the specified signal properties:

On

To apply the specified signal properties to the active signal in all scenarios, select this parameter.

Off

To apply signal properties only in the current active scenario, clear this parameter.

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT-file exists.

Dependencies

If the Apply signal properties to all signals parameter is also selected, the block applies the signal properties to all signals in all scenarios.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ApplySigPropsToAllScenarios

Type: character vector

Values: 'off' | 'on'

Default: 'on'

Apply signal properties to all signals — Option to apply signal properties to all signals

off (default) | on

Option to apply the specified signal properties:

On

To apply the specified signal properties to all the signals in the active scenario, select this parameter. There is no concept of an active signal.

Off

To not apply signal property to all signals, clear this parameter.

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Dependencies

If the Apply signal properties to all scenarios parameter is also selected, the block applies the signal properties to all signals in all scenarios.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ApplySigPropsToAllSignals

Type: character vector

Values: 'off' | 'on'

Default: 'off'

Output a bus signal — Configure signal as bus

off (default) | on

Configure signal as a bus:

On

Configure signal as a bus.

Off

Do not configure signal as a bus.

The specified MAT file must exist.

Tip

Select this check box only if the active signal is a MATLAB structure whose fields are the same as an existing bus object, or create a new matching bus object. If you select this check box for an active signal that is not a MATLAB structure, simulation returns an error.

Dependencies

• Selecting Output a bus signal enables the Select bus object parameter.

• To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: IsBus

Type: character vector

Values: 'off' | 'on'

Default: 'off'

Select bus object — Bus object

Bus: BusObject (default) | bus object name

Select or enter the bus object name. To edit the bus object or create a bus object using the Data Type Assistant, click >>. The active signal must be a MATLAB structure whose fields are the same as this bus object. The specified MAT file must exist.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: OutputBusObjectStr

Type: character vector

Values: bus object name

Default: 'Bus: BusObject'

Mode — Bus object mode

Bus Object (default) | bus object data type

Select the bus object name. If you do not have a bus object, create one by clicking Edit, which starts the Type Editor. For more information, see Create Simulink Bus Objects.

Unit — Physical unit

inherit (default) | supported physical unit

Physical unit of the signal, specified as an allowed unit. To specify a unit, begin typing in the text box. As you type, the parameter displays potential matching units. For more information, see Unit Specification in Simulink Models. For a list of supported units, see Allowed Unit Systems.

To constrain the unit system, click the link to the right of the parameter:

• If a Unit System Configuration block exists in the component, its dialog box opens. Use that dialog box to specify allowed and disallowed unit systems for the component.

• If a Unit System Configuration block does not exist in the component, the model Configuration Parameters dialog box displays. Use that dialog box to specify allowed and disallowed unit systems for the model.

The specified MAT file must exist.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Unit

Type: character vector

Values: 'inherit' | supported physical unit

Default: 'inherit'

Sample time — Time interval between samples

0 (default) | -1 | sample time in seconds

Time interval between samples, specified in seconds. The specified MAT file must exist.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: SampleTime

Type: character vector

Values: -1 | sample time in seconds

Default: '0'

Interpolate data — Linearly interpolate data

off (default) | on

Linearly interpolate data at time hits for which no corresponding workspace data exist. The specified MAT file must exist.

The Signal Editor block linearly interpolates:

On

Linearly interpolate at time hits for which no corresponding workspace data exist, select this option.

Off

The current output equals the output at the most recent time for which data exists.

The Signal Editor block interpolates by using the two corresponding workspace samples:

• For double data, linearly interpolates the value by using the two corresponding samples

• For Boolean data, uses false for the first half of the time between two time values and true for the second half

• For a built-in data type other than double or Boolean:

  • Upcasts the data to double

  • Performs linear interpolation (as described for double data)

  • Downcasts the interpolated value to the original data type

You cannot use linear interpolation with enumerated (enum) data.

The block uses the value of the last known data point as the value of time hits that occur after the last known data point.

To determine the block output after the last time hit for which data is available, combine the settings of these parameters:

• Interpolate data

• Form output after final data value by

For details, see the Form output after final data value by parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: Interpolate

Type: character vector

Values: 'off' | 'on'

Default: 'off'

Enable zero-crossing detection — Detect zero-crossings

off (default) | on

If you select Enable zero-crossing detection, the Signal Editor block detects a zero crossing when the input array contains multiple entries for the same time value. For example, suppose that the block loads this input data:

time:     0 1 2 2 3
signal:   2 3 4 5 6

At time 2, a zero crossing occurs because of the discontinuity in the input data. For more information, see Zero-Crossing Detection.

When you load input data for a bus, the Signal Editor block detects zero crossings for all leaf bus elements.

This block supports zero-crossing detection only in simulations that use a variable-step solver. When you use a fixed-step solver for simulation, the software does not detect or locate zero crossings for this block.

The specified MAT file must exist.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: ZeroCross

Type: character vector

Values: 'off' | 'on'

Default: 'off'

Form output after final data value by — Block output after the last time hit for which data is available

Setting to zero (default) | Extrapolation | Holding final value

To determine the block output after the last time hit for which workspace data is available, combine the settings of these parameters:

• Interpolate data

• Form output after final data value by

This table lists the block output, based on the values of the two options.

Setting for Form Output After Final Data Value By	Setting for Interpolate Data	Block Output After Final Data
Extrapolation	On	Extrapolated from final data value
	Off	Error
Setting to zero	On	Zero
	Off	Zero
Holding final value	On	Final value from workspace
	Off	Final value from workspace

For example, the block uses the last two known data points to extrapolate data points that occur after the last known point if you:

• Select Interpolate data.

• Set Form output after final data value by to Extrapolation.

The specified MAT file must exist.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, ensure that the specified MAT file exists.

Programmatic Use

Block Parameter: OutputAfterFinalValue

Type: character vector

Values: 'Setting to zero' | 'Extrapolation' | 'Holding final value'

Default: 'Setting to zero'

Block Characteristics

Data Types	Boolean | bus | double | enumerated | fixed point | half | integer | single | string
Direct Feedthrough	no
Multidimensional Signals	yes
Variable-Size Signals	no
Zero-Crossing Detection	yes

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation

Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Not recommended for production code.

PLC Code Generation
Generate Structured Text code using Simulink® PLC Coder™.

Fixed-Point Conversion
Design and simulate fixed-point systems using Fixed-Point Designer™.

Version History

Introduced in R2017b

R2023b: Signal Editor Block Updates

The Signal Editor block dialog box has these updates:

• In the Signal properties section, the new Apply signal properties to all signals check box lets you apply the specified signal properties to all signals.

• When you pause on the Active scenario parameter, a tooltip displays the Name property of the data set object. If the block is converted from a Signal Builder block using the signalBuilderToSignalEditor function, the Name property is the same as the Signal Builder block Group name.

R2023a: Signal Editor Block Updates

The Signal Editor block dialog has these updates:

• The Launch Signal Editor button has moved to the top of the block parameters dialog box.

• The Signal properties section is reorganized.

• In the Signal properties section, the new Apply properties to active signal in all scenarios check box lets you apply the specified signal properties to the active signal with the same name in all scenarios.