Data Store Write

Write data to data store


Signal Routing


The Data Store Write block copies the value at its input to the named data store. Each write operation performed by a Data Store Write block writes over the data store, replacing the previous contents.

The data store to which this block writes is determined by the location of the Data Store Memory block or signal object that defines the data store. For more information, see Data Stores and Data Store Memory. The size of the data store is set by the signal object or the Data Store Memory block that defines and initializes the data store. Each Data Store Write block that writes to that data store must write the same amount of data.

More than one Data Store Write block can write to the same data store. However, if two Data Store Write blocks attempt to write to the same data store during the same simulation step, results are unpredictable.

Obtaining correct results from data stores requires ensuring that data store reads and writes occur in the expected order. For details, see Order Data Store Access and Data Store Diagnostics.

You can log the values of a local or global data store data variable for all the steps in a simulation. For details, see Log Data Stores.

Data Type Support

The Data Store Write block accepts a real or complex signal of these data types:

  • Floating point

  • Built-in integer

  • Fixed point

  • Boolean

  • Enumerated

  • Bus

The block does not support variable-size signals.


You can use an array of buses with a Data Store Write block. For details about defining and using an array of buses, see Combine Buses into an Array of Buses.


Data store name

Specifies the name of the data store to which this block writes data. The adjacent pull-down list lists the names of Data Store Memory blocks that exist at the same level in the model as the Data Store Write block or at higher levels. The pulldown list also includes all Simulink.Signal objects in the base and model workspaces. To change the name, select a name from the pull-down list or enter the name directly in the edit field.

When Simulink software compiles the model containing this block, Simulink software searches the model upwards from this block's level for a Data Store Memory block having the specified data store name. If Simulink does not find such a block, it searches the model workspace and the MATLAB® workspace for a Simulink.Signal object having the same name. If Simulink software finds neither the Data Store Memory block nor the signal object, it halts the compilation and displays an error. See Symbol Resolution for more information about the search path.

If Simulink finds a signal object, it creates a hidden Data Store Memory block at the model's root level having the properties specified by the signal object and an initial value set to a matrix of zeros. The dimensions of that matrix are inherited from the Dimensions property of the signal object.

Data store memory block

This field lists the Data Store Memory block that initialized the store to which this block writes.

Data store read blocks

This parameter lists all the Data Store Read blocks with the same data store name as this block that are in the same (sub)system or in any subsystem below it in the model hierarchy. Double-click any entry on this list to highlight the block and bring it to the foreground.

Sample time

Specify the sample time that controls when the block writes to the data store. A value of -1 indicates that the sample time is inherited. See Specify Sample Time for more information.

Use the Element Assignment pane to assign a subset of the bus or matrix elements defined for writing to the associated data store. The Data Store Write block icon reflects the elements that you specify. For details, see Accessing Specific Bus and Matrix Elements.

Elements in the array or Signals in the bus (Prompt is specific to the type of data.)

For bus signals, lists the elements in the associated data store. The list displays the maximum dimensions for each element, in parentheses.

For data stores with a bus data type, you can expand the tree to view the bus elements. For data stores with arrays, you can write the whole data store, or you can assign one or more elements to the whole data store.

You can select an element and then use one of the following approaches:

  • Click Select>> to display that element (and all its subelements) in the Assigned element(s) list.

  • Use the Specify element(s) to assign edit box to specify the bus or matrix elements that you want to select for reading. Then click Select>>.

To refresh the display to reflect modifications to the bus or matrix used in the data store, click Refresh.

Specify element(s) to assign

Enter a MATLAB expression to define the specific element that you want to write. For example, for a data store named DSM that has maximum dimensions of [3,5], you could enter expressions such as DSM(2, 4) or DSM([1 3], 2) in the edit box. Then click Select>>.

To apply the element selection, click OK.

Assigned Element(s)

Displays the elements that you selected for assignment. The Data Store Write block icon displays a port for each element that you specify.

To change the order of bus or matrix elements in the list, select the element in the list and click Up or Down. Changing the order of the elements in the list changes the order of the ports. To remove an element, click Remove.


Data Types


Sample Time

Specified in the Sample time parameter

Multidimensional Signals


Variable-Size Signals


Code Generation


Introduced before R2006a

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