Browser Context-Sensitive Menu

The Project Browser context sensitive pop-up menu offers a variety of operation choices which are relevant to the entity and context.

These options allow you to quickly expand or collapse system/entity folders, save model and assembly files, add assemblies/systems, add entities to containers, rename, activate/deactivate, copy and paste, or delete entities, and view various model information. You can access the context sensitive menu options by clicking the right mouse button on a folder, entity/item, blank space, or column header within the browser.


Figure 1. Project Browser Context-Sensitive Menu

The visibility of browser context menu items is dependent on the current selection. Only menu items belonging to the type of selected items will appear. Options selected in an empty space apply to the entire model. Click on the items below to see the specific context menu options available for each selection:

Model Folder



Figure 2. Model folder context menu

System Folder



Figure 3. System folder context menu

Assembly placeholder



Figure 4. Assembly placeholder context menu

Assembly



Figure 5. Assembly context menu

Analysis (Inline)



Figure 6. Analysis (Inline) context menu

Analysis (External)



Figure 7. Analysis (External) context menu

"Entity" folder (Body folder, Point folder, etc.)



Figure 8. Body folder context menu

"Entity" (Point, Joint, etc.)



Figure 9. Point context menu

Multiple Bodies



Figure 10. Multiple Bodies context menu

Empty Space



Figure 11. Empty space context menu

Column heading



Figure 12. Column heading context menu
Option Description Available for
Expand All Fully expands all levels of the browser tree structure to show all items nested in the hierarchy. Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity"

Empty space

Collapse All Fully collapses all levels of the browser tree structure to show only the root-level model (system) entity in the hierarchy. Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity"

Empty space

     
Expand All Children Expands selected parent system (or folder container) to show all of its child entities. Opens all of the child entity folders (children), exposing every item nested at every level under the selected system folder (only). Model folder

System folder

"Entity" folder

Collapse All Children Collapses all child entities to show the parent system (or entity container) for the selected entity (or entities). Closes all of the child entity folders (children), so that only the top-most level is displayed for the selected system folder. Model folder

System folder

"Entity" folder

     
Filter Using Toolbar Allow you to control what types of entities will be displayed in the project browser tree. When toggled on, the filtering is driven through the toolbar instead of the browser. The view will be filtered according to the currently active entity type selected on the toolbar (for example, Points, Bodies, Joints, etc.).
Note: All 'Show…' filter methods will not be accessible while this option is enabled.

Unchecking this option immediately removes all filtering (equivalent to the Show All Objects state).

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Empty space

Show All Objects Removes all entity-based filter(s) so that all objects will be displayed in the browser.
Note: This option is not available when the Filter Using Toolbar option is active.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Empty space

Show Systems/Assemblies Only Browser content is filtered to show only System or Assembly entity types.

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Show Analyses Only Browser content is filtered to show only the Analysis entity type.

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

Show "Entity" Only Browser content is filtered to show only the selected "Entity".
Note: More than one type of entity may be filtered simultaneously (for example, joints and points).

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

     
Save Opens the Save dialog that will allow you to save a file in the .mdl file format. Model folder

Assembly

Analysis (External)

Save As Opens the Save As dialog that will allow you to save a file in the .mdl file format.

Model folder

Assembly

Analysis (External)

     
Activate > Selected Objects(s) Activates a previously "deactivated" item or selection of multiple items.
Note: The icon for a "deactivated" item has a dimmed appearance in the browser tree.

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Activate > Selected Objects(s) and References Allows you to activate the selected deactivated object(s) and all other deactivated objects that are used as references by the selected object(s) with one click. This also works on the entity folder, for example it activates all of the entities in that folder as well as their references

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Deactivate > Selected Object(s) Deactivates the selected item or items. The browser icon for the deactivated item becomes 'dimmed' in appearance.

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Deactivate > Selected Objects(s) and Dependents Allows you to deactivate the selected object(s) and all other objects that are using the selected object(s) as references with one click. This also works on the entity folder, for example it deactivates all of the entities in that folder as well as their dependents.

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Select Object and Dependents Allows you to select the object and all of its dependent entities with one click. This also works on the entity folder and selects all of the entities in that folder as well as their dependents.

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Rename Allows you to rename/change the label for a single system/entity. After a new name has been provided, use the ENTER key to complete the rename operation. To abort/cancel the rename operation at any time during data entry, use the ESC key (or click somewhere away from the data entry field).
Tip: The F2 keyboard shortcut can also be used to invoke the rename data entry field.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity"

Merge Allows you to merge two or more rigid bodies. Refer to the Merging Bodies topic for additional information. Multiple Body Entities
Make Designable...

Allows you to declare entity data-members as designable. These design variables could be used to perform an optimization using MotionSolve via the Optimization Wizard, or as parameters for a MotionSolve FMU generated from the MotionView model (designable FMU). See the MotionSolve Models as a Functional Mockup Unit (FMU) topic for additional information. Currently supported entities are: Points, Bodies (Rigid and Point Mass), Springs, Bushings, Forces, and Datasets. Depending on the type of entity that is chosen (before invoking the context menu), the Design Variable dialog box (as shown below) will list various tabs filtering each type of entity.

To add a design variable using an existing point in the model, select the Points tab, then select the Point entity and choose the required datamember(s) from the right side of the dialog, and then press the "Add" button.


Figure 13.
"Entity"
Select Assembly Opens the Select Assembly dialog wizard that will allow for swapping out the current assembly for a different one. If the assembly placeholder has a type specified, it will only be possible to choose that type of assembly.

Assembly placeholder

Reselect Assembly Opens the Reselect Assembly dialog wizard that will allow for swapping out the current assembly for a different one. If the assembly placeholder has a type specified, it will only be possible to choose that type of assembly.

Assembly

Apply Attachment Candidates Processes all containers selected (including their children containers) and automatically chooses attachments, where candidates are available as attachments. If there is any ambiguity in selecting an attachment, a pop-up dialog appears allowing the ambiguity to be resolved. Requires usage of Attachment Candidates. See the Container Entities topic for additional information.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

Show Shared Instances Applicable for definition based entities (such as: Systems, Analysis, Datasets, etc.) that share their definition with other instances. Lists other instances that share the same definition as the entity listed under the Definition column.

Refer to the Manage Shared Definitions topic for additional information.

DataSets

Forms

Templates

CommandSets

Systems

GraphicSystems

Analysis (Inline)

Separate Definition Applicable for definition based entities (such as: Systems, Analysis, Datasets, etc.) that share their definition with other instances. Creates a new definition for the selected entity, thereby separating it from the definition that is shared with the other instances. DataSets

Forms

Templates

CommandSets

Systems

GraphicSystems

Analysis (Inline)

Add "Entity" Opens the Add "Entity" dialog, allowing you to add an entity to the system or model definition. The name of the dialog changes depending on the entity type selected (for example, Add Body or BodyPair or Add Surface). The icon for this menu button indicates the type of entity to be added.

"Entity" folder

Entity

Add > System/ Assembly Opens the Add System/Assembly dialog wizard, which allows you to either add a new System, or add an Assembly. When adding an Assembly there are three options: Existing Data File, New Data File, and Specify Data File later (also known as an Assembly Placeholder).

Model folder

Assembly

Analysis (External)

Add > System Opens the Add System dialog wizard, allowing you to add a new System to an existing system or inlined analysis.

System folder

Analysis (Inline)

Add > Analysis Allows you to add new analysis to your model, modify attachments, set initial conditions for an analysis, and set analysis options.

Model folder

Add > ... Allows modeling entities to be added to a model, system, assembly, or analysis.

Sub-menus residing below the top level Add menu, include the following:

 
  Reference Entity > Allows you to add:
  • Point
  • Body
  • Vector
  • Marker
  • Curve
  • Graphic
  • Surface
  • Deformable
  • Curve
  • Deformable
  • Surface

Model folder

System folder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

  Constraint > Allows you to add:
  • Joint
  • Motion
  • Coupler
  • Gear
  • Advanced
  • Joint

Model folder

System folder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

  Force Entity > Allows you to add:
  • Force
  • Bushing
  • Field
  • Spring Damper
  • Beam
  • Polybeam
  • Contact

Model folder

System folder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

  Control Entity > Allows you to add:
  • Solver Variable
  • Solver Array
  • Solver String
  • Solver Differential
  • Equation
  • Control SISO
  • Sensor

Model folder

System folder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

  General MDL Entity > Allows you to add:
  • Output
  • Dataset
  • Template

Model folder

System folder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

Delete Deletes the selected systems or entities from the model and removes them from the browser tree. A pop-up dialog to confirm the delete operation will appear to prevent accidental deletion of items. If Global entities (such as a Ground Body or Global Origin point) are included in the selection, they will be ignored and will not be deleted.
Tip: The DELETE keyboard shortcut can also be used to delete the selected item(s).

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Cut Cuts the selected systems or entities from the browser tree. No confirmation pop-up dialog will appear. Items that have been cut from the model may be reinserted by using the Paste option on an appropriate System.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Copy Copies the selected systems or entities from the browser tree. No confirmation pop-up dialog will appear. Items that have been copied from the model may be reinserted by using the Paste option on an appropriate System.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

"Entity" folder

"Entity"

Paste Paste puts any (previously cut) entities back into the browser tree at the selected hierarchical location. It is important to note that the Paste operation is not valid and is disabled/'grayed-out' in the "Entity" and "Entity" folder context menus. Container folders will be automatically generated, as needed, in order to accommodate the pasted entities. Any entities pasted more than once will have their varname(s) assigned automatically to ensure that they are unique.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

     
Data Summary Displays the Data Summary dialog for the selected item(s) so that the entity type may be inspected in a tabular format. The Data Summary menu button will be disabled (or 'grayed-out') for those entity types that are not supported within the Data Summary table.

Model folder

System folder

Assembly placeholder

Assembly

Analysis (Inline)

Analysis (External)

     
Varname Allows you to show/hide the Varname column. The varname of an entity is commonly used when constructing parametric expressions or when debugging models. Column heading only.
ID Allows you to show/hide the ID column. When enabled, the column displays the current solver ID for all applicable entities. Pair IDs are shown comma-separated (0,0).
Note: You can use the use Check Model tool to generate non-zero ID values.
Column heading only.
Definition Allows you to show/hide the Definition column. This column displays the definition name for definition based entities such as: System, Assembly, Analysis, DataSets, Templates, Forms, and CommandSets. Column heading only.
Color Allows you to show or hide the Color column. When enabled, the color for an entity or a system can be specified by clicking on the color icon and making a selection from the Colors/Materials dialog. When the color of a system is changed, the new color 'cascades down' having an effect on the colors of its children; the colors are updated in both the browser (icons) and in the graphics window. Similarly, changing the color of the 'Model' will effect the color of all systems, as well as their children, therefore this feature should be used with caution. Column heading only.
Mesh Allows you to show/hide the Mesh column. When enabled, the mesh and shading attributes for the selected entities can be set by clicking on the mesh icon and making a selection from the Mesh/Shade dialog. The icons in the Mesh column are updated to reflect the settings for a given entity. Column heading only.
     
All On Enables the visibility of all available column headers (Varname, ID, Definition, Color, or Mesh). Column heading only.
All Off Disables the visibility of all column headers (except the Objects column, which cannot be turned off). Column heading only.

Finding Entities in the Browser

The Project Browser is equipped with the ability to search for entities. There are two methods that can be used to search for entities: