Working with the Component Browser

You can perform a number of actions in the Component Browser.

When a class is activated from the Package Browser, its components, connectors, and extended classes are displayed in the Component Browser. You can also select to display parameters, variables, constants, and discrete values.

The model (components and connectors) contained in the active class is represented in the diagram layer.

Under the displayed active class (the root node), note that:

  • The first level under the root level of the tree shows components directly declared or extended in the active class.
  • The levels below show subcomponents of the first-level components.

This task shows you how to:

Show or Hide the Component Browser

You can show or hide the Component Browser.

The Component Browser is displayed by default.

If minimized or not displayed, do the following:
  • If minimized, the Component Browser is represented by an icon on the right side of the screen. Click this icon to display it.
  • If not displayed, from the View section of the action bar, click Component Browser .
    Tip: You can also access this command from the App Options panel. To access the App Options panel, from the Tools section of the action bar, select App Options .

The Component Browser is displayed.

Tip: To hide the Component Browser, click again (from the action bar or the App Options panel) Component Browser . It can also be minimized, if not docked.
Notes:
  • Replaceable components are indicated by an "R" on the component icon.
  • To prevent you from closing the Component Browser, it has no Close command.

Display Also Parameters, Variables, Constants, and Discrete Values

You can also select to display parameters, variables, constants, and discrete values in the Component Browser, in addition to the default content.

  1. From the Component Browser header, click Show Preferences.
  2. To display parameters, variables, constants, and discrete values, activate the Show parameters preference.

    By default, the preference is cleared.

    Notes:
    • The command is a shortcut to the Show parameters preference from Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling > Systems Modeling and Execution > Dymola Behavior Modeling , the Editor tab, the Component Browser group.
    • For all preferences available, see Native Apps Preferences Guide: Editor.

Parameters, variables, constants, and discrete values are displayed in the Component Browser, in addition to the default content. Any exposition to Knowledgeware is indicated by the icons:

  • The item is not exposed in Knowledgeware.
  • The item is exposed in Knowledgeware.
  • The value of the item is computed from a formula, or has a direct link with another Knowledgeware or PLM parameter.
Note: What attributes of the item that are exposed to Knowledgeware may differ. See Exposing Modelica Parameters as Knowledgeware Parameters.

Display Also the Class of the Components

You can display the class of the components.

Before you begin: Display the Component Browser of a model.
  1. From the Component Browser header, click Show Preferences.
  2. To display the full class name of each component, activate the Show reference class path preference.

    By default, the preference is cleared.

    Notes:
    • The command is a shortcut to the Show reference class path preference from Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling > Systems Modeling and Execution > Dymola Behavior Modeling , the Editor tab, the Component Browser group.
    • For all preferences available, see Native Apps Preferences Guide: Editor.

The full class name of each component is displayed in brackets after each component.

Reorder the Content

You can sort the components and connectors in the Component Browser, in an alphabetical or a reverse alphabetical order.

Notes:
  • For components with no graphical presentation: the children of the root level only are displayed.
  • For parameters: two hierarchical levels under the root are displayed.

Before you begin:

Display the Component Browser. An example of the structure displayed inside it could be:

The numbers above indicate:

  1. Active class
  2. Extended class
  3. Connectors
  4. Components.

  1. Click Sort .
    Components and connectors are sorted in an alphabetical order.
  2. To sort in a reverse alphabetical order, click again Sort .
    Components and connectors are sorted in a reverse alphabetical order.
  3. To go back to the initial order, click a third time Sort .
    The classes are sorted in the initial order.

Use the Navigation History

You can use the history of your navigation through models to navigate in the Component Browser.

Before you begin:

From the Package Browser, expand your library, activate a first class Modelica.Mechanics.MultiBody.Examples.Elementary.DoublePendulum, then a second class, close to the first one, PointGravity.

  1. Click Previous Activated Object to display the previous model from the navigation history (DoublePendulum).
  2. Click Next Activated Object to return to the next model from the navigation history (PointGravity).
  3. Click Last 5 Activated Models to display the list of the last five objects from the navigation history.


  4. Click to activate a model in the list.