Connecting Models

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Connecting Models

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In 20-sim, submodels can be connected using the mouse. When a connection is created it will be displayed using straight lines. When a connection has been made you can change it into a smooth line using the right mouse menu. You can change the color of a connection using the colorbar at the bottom of the Editor. 20-sim supports two types of mouse use. "Tapping Mode" and "Pressing Mode". In the Tapping Mode you click the mouse button (do not keep it pressed but quickly "tap" the button) while making a connection. In the Pressing Mode you keep the mouse button pressed while making a connection.

Tapping Mode

To connect two submodels using straight lines, you have to:

1.In the toolbar, click ConnectionMode to change to connection mode.
2.Put the mouse pointer on top of the first submodel and click the left mouse button (do not keep it pressed but quickly "tap" the button).
3.Drag the mouse pointer towards the second submodel (you will see a connection drawn from the first submodel towards the mouse pointer).
4.Put the mouse pointer on top of the second submodel and click the left mouse button again (do not keep it pressed but quickly "tap" the button).
5.While dragging from the first submodel to the second, you can click the left mouse button (do not keep it pressed but quickly "tap" the button) to create intermediate points.

Pressing Mode

To connect two submodels using straight lines, you have to:

1.In the toolbar, click ConnectionMode to change to connection mode.
2.Put the mouse pointer on top of the first submodel and press left mouse button (keep it pressed).
3.Drag the mouse pointer towards the second submodel (you will see a connection drawn from the first submodel towards the mouse pointer).
4.Put the mouse pointer on top of the second submodel and release the left mouse button.
5.While dragging from the first submodel to the second, you can click the right mouse button to create intermediate points.

Smooth Line

To connect two submodels using a smooth line, you have to:

1.Make a straight line connection with intermediate points.
2.In the toolbar, click SelectionMode to change to selection mode.
3.Select the connection that was created.
4.From the right mouse menu select "smooth line".

Show Terminals

The connections between models start and end at terminals. When you are in connection mode (ConnectionMode), these terminals are shown. You can explicitly show them by clicking View - Show Terminals. The way connections behave, depend on the terminals being fixed or not fixed.

Tips & Tricks

20-sim will automatically detect which connection has to be made: a signals, a bond or an iconic diagram connection.
Depending on the physical domain, every connection will have a specific color. You can change these colors in the Units Editor.
You can toggle between connection mode ConnectionMode and selection mode SelectionMode by pressing the space bar.
Connections on a submodel can have a fixed position, or move around the border of the submodel. This property can be set in the Icon Editor, or by showing the terminals.