Table of Contents
Matrix window
The matrix window shows a graphical representation of the blocks in the model for the current project using an interaction matrix.
To display this window select Window | Matrix from the menu bar.
Building a model
You define blocks by right-clicking cells in the interaction matrix. A pop-up menu will present a list of available blocks. Depending on the type of block it is defined either on the diagonal or in an off-diagonal cell of the matrix. For example, compartments are defined in the diagonal cells, and transfers are defined in the off-diagonal cells.
To define interactions blocks, right-click on the (off-diagonal) cell in the same row as the block of origin, and the same column as the destination block. All interactions between diagonal blocks are set up clockwise in the matrix.
Multiple interactions are allowed between two diagonal blocks. The cell will split to show each interaction on a separate row. When more than four interactions are defined, the cell will only show the first four ones and the text “more”, in the lower right corner will appear.
When you right-click a cell containing multiple interactions, the menu will use sub-menus for the Edit and Delete buttons. Each sub-menu lists the names of the interactions and allows you to anyone of these.
Grouping blocks
Groups and Sub-systems can be used to group blocks and make the interaction matrix more manageble. Groups and sub-systems are created right clicking a diagonal cell in the matrix and selecting either Group or Sub-system from the menu.
Title bar
The title bar has short-cuts for common tasks:
 | The drop down list is only available when the model contains sub-systems, and lets you select which sub-system to display in the matrix. |
 | Auto-zoom. When selected, the size of the matrix will automatically adjust to fit the bounds of the model window when the window size changes. You must unselect this button to enable the other zoom buttons (see below) |
 | Zoom selection. Adjusts the size of the matrix to fit the bounds of the selected cells. |
 | Zoom in. Enlarges the size of the matrix. |
 | Zoom out. Shrinks the size of the matrix.. |
 | Transfers the selected blocks to the clipboard and marks them for deletion after the transfer. See data transfer for more information. |
 | Transfers the selected blocks to the clipboard. See data transfer for more information. |
 | Copies the clipboard contents into the selected sub-system. See data transfer for more information. |
 | Display ruler. The ruler displays the names of diagonal elements and is useful for large matrices |
 | Display palette (see below) |
 | Insert an empty cell above the cursor |
 | Insert an empty cell below the cursor |
Searching
The drop down lists below the title bar can be used to search for blocks with specific properties. Click the More button for more search options.
| Search | Type the name, or part of the name, that you are looking for. |
| Type | Select the type of block or - All types - to ignore the type. |
| Enabled | Check to include only enabled blocks in the search result. |
| Visible | Check this box to show only blocks that are “Visible (in player)”. |
| Connected | Check to hide all blocks which receive input from other blocks (through connectors). |
| Pinned | Check to always display blocks which are “pinned” (see properties listed above), regardless of what is entered in the other search controls. This feature is useful when there are many blocks in the project; if you want to compare two blocks you can search for the first block, pin it, and continue searching for the second block. |
Menu
Depending on where you right-click in the matrix, the pop-up menu will change. For instance, if you select an empty diagonal element the menu contains a list of available diagonal blocks that can be created. The table below describes all possible pop-up menu options.
| Create | The first buttons in the menu lets add blocks to the matrix. Only buttons for blocks that are available for the specific location are presented. | |
| Edit… | Opens an edit dialog window for the selected block. Note that you can double-click a cell to open the same dialog window. | |
| Connect to | … | Lets you connect the selected (source) diagonal block with another (target) block. |
| Group | Creates a group and moves all selected blocks into it. | |
| Sub-system | Creates a sub-system and moves all selected blocks into it. | |
| Get from library | Inserts a module from the library. See module library for more information. | |
| Replace with library item | Replaces a sub-system in the matrix with a sub-system from the library, while trying to maintain the connections to other sub-systems.See module library for more information. | |
| Add to library | Inserts a sub-system from the matrix into the library. See module library for more information. | |
| Insert above | Add empty cells above the selected cell. | |
| Insert below | Add empty cells below the selected cell. | |
| Apply | ||
| Enable/Disable | Enables or disables the selected blocks. | |
| Player Hide/Show | Make or unmake the selected blocks available in Ecolego Player | |
| Convert… | Convert the selected blocks to related types. | |
| Find/Replace references to… | Allows you to list all objects that (through their equations) reference the selected object, and also allows you to re-direct these references to another object. See replacing references for more information. | |
| Delete | Delete all selected cells. | |
| Destroy Sub-system | Deletes the selected sub-system and moves all the blocks it contains to the parent sub-system. | |
| Arrange matrix… | Opens a dialog window where you can move, hide and unhide blocks in the matrix. See organizing the matrix | |
| Palette | Display the block palette. | |
| Ruler | Display the ruler. | |
| Zoom | ||
| Auto-zoom | Keep the zoom automatically adjusted to fit the bounds of the model window. Note that while auto-zoom is selected, the other zoom options are not available. | |
| Zoom in | Enlarges the size of the matrix. | |
| Zoom out | Shrinks the size of the matrix. | |
| Zoom selected | Adjusts the zoom to display the currently selected objects. | |
| Navigate | ||
| Enter | Displays the matrix of the selected sub-system | |
| Exit | Displays the matrix of the parent of the selected sub-system | |
| Home | Displays the matrix of the root sub-system |
The block palette
The block palette lets you quickly add blocks to the matrix. The palette is displayed by clicking the button in the title bar. The palette has a button for each type of block. When a button is selected in the palette, a corresponding block is added as soon as an empty cell is clicked upon in the matrix. To stop creating blocks, unselect the button in the palette.
See also
