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Update Diagram and Run Simulation

You can leave many attributes of a block diagram, such as signal data types and sample times, unspecified. The Simulink® software then infers the values of block diagram attributes based on the block connectivity and attributes that you specify. The process that Simulink uses is known as updating the diagram.



Simulate the Model and View Results


Use either of these methods to simulate a model:

  • Press Ctrl+T.

  • Click Run .

In this example, the simulation runs for 10 seconds, which is the default setting.

Double-click both Scope blocks to open them and view the results.

The figures show the two results. In the second plot, the absolute value of the sine wave is always positive.

Scope window showing a sine wave with an amplitude of three

Scope window showing the absolute value of a sine wave with an amplitude of three

Update the Diagram While Editing

You can also update the diagram at any point while you create a model. Updating the diagram periodically can help you to identify and fix potential simulation issues as you develop the model. This approach can make it easier to identify the sources of problems by focusing on a set of recent changes. Also, updating the diagram takes less time than performing a simulation, so you can identify issues more quickly.

To update the diagram, from the Modeling tab, click Update Model. Alternatively, press Ctrl+D.

To see the effects of updating the diagram.

  1. On the Debug tab, select Information Overlays > Base Data Types.

    The data types of the output ports of the blocks appear. The data type of the ports is double, the default value.

    Model with an inlet port connected to an Abs block connected to a Gain block with a value of three connected to an output port, where each signal line has the label double visible above it, and the line between the Gain block and outlet port has the label Scope below it

  2. Double-click the Abs block.

  3. In the Block Parameters dialog box, on the Signal Attributes tab, set Output data type to single and click OK.

    The data type overlays on the block diagram do not show this change.

  4. On the Modeling tab, click Update Model.

    The updated block diagram shows the changes to the output data types of the Abs and Gain blocks.

    The model from step 1, with the data type of the signal line between the Abs block and the Gain block, and the line between the Gain block and the outlet port, changed from double to single

    The data type of the Gain block changes because the output data type of a Gain block is based on the data types of the input signal and the Gain parameter. In this example, the block uses the same data type as the input signal.

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