This is the fourth in a series of the basics of Dymola following on from the second blog about the Variable Browser. This post will be describing the use of the Diagram Layer and its use in conjunction with the Variable Browser within the Simulation Window.
To aid navigation through a model and the results of a simulation view of the Diagram Layer can be brought into the Simulation window. This allows the user to navigate through a model to then review the model and the parameters of the simulated model.
To show the Diagram Layer there is a button at the bottom right of the simulation window that is the same as the diagram layer button within the modelling window, as highlighted within the red box below in Error! Reference source not found..
This opens a window that shows the Diagram Layer of the model that is open within the Modelling window as shown in Figure 1 but this is not necessarily the model that has been simulated. The model below is the DoublePendulum model found within the Modelica Standard Library (MSL) with the path location Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Examples.Elementary.DoublePendulum.
Parameters can be changed through either double clicking a component or right clicking and selecting Parameters; but the Diagram window it does not allow connections to be made or changed. It also does not have the same effect as changing the parameter within the variable browser in a simulation window as it requires the model to be re-initialised if any parameter is changed.
After simulating a model and having that model shown in the Diagram window component variables can be found easily by right clicking on any active component within the diagram layer and selecting Show Variables this then opens the list of variables and sub-components within that component.
Figure 2 shows that when the revolute1 joint is selected and Show Variables is selected and then all the variables associated with revolute1 (highlighted) are then shown in the Variable Browser to then allow viewing in a Plot Window or editing within the browser itself. Editing the variables in this way allows modifications to parameters and then allows the model to be run again without needing to initialise as long as no changes to the model have been made to the model outside this browser.