Menu_entries — Editor menu entries
File:New
Clicking on the New menu item loads an empty diagram in the active editor Scicos window. If the previous content of the window is not saved, it will be lost.
File:Open
Select the Open menu item to load an ASCII or binary file containing a saved block diagram or palette. A dialog box allows user choosing the file.
File:Rename
This menu allows to change the diagram name. An editable dialog box opens.
File:Save (s)
Select the save menu item to save the block diagram in a binary file already selected by a previous select the Save As menu item. If you select this menu item and you have never clicked on the Save As menu item, the diagram is saved in the current directory as "window_name".cos where "window_name" is the name of the window appearing on top of the window (usually Untitled or Super Block). The .cos binary files are machine independent.
File:Save As
Select the Save As menu item to save the block diagram or palette in a file. A dialog box allows choosing the file which must have a .cos or .cosf extension. The diagram takes the name of the file (without the extension). If extension is ".cosf" an ASCII formatted save is performed instead of binary save. Formatted save is slower than regular save.
File:Save as Interf Func
Select "the Save as Interf. Func." menu item to save the diagram as a new Scicos block. A Scilab function is generated and saved in a file with ".sci" extension. File name and path are to be set in a "File menu" dialog.
File:Export
This menu is used to export a figure of the current Scicos diagram. The export can be done directly in postscript format or done first in a graphic window to export in a second step in all the format that scilab can provide.
File:Export All
This menu is used to export Scicos diagrams in postscript format.
File:Exit Scicos
Click on the Exit Scicos menu item to close Scicos. That menu allows to return to Scilab session even if the current diagram is a Super block.
File:Quit (q)
Click on the Quit menu item to close current diagram. If current diagram is not a Super block, Exit menu closes Scicos and returns to Scilab session. Save your diagram or/and your palette before leaving. File/Close menu has the same effect.
Diagram:Replot (r)
Select the Replot menu item to replot the content of the graphics window. Graphics window stores complete history of the editing session in memory. Replot is useful for 'cleaning' this memory.
Diagram:Purge
Select the Purge menu item to get a clean data structure. If diagram has been hugely modified many deleted blocks may remain in the data structure. It may be useful to suppress then before saving.
Diagram:Set Diagram Info
This menu allows to set user's diagram information. This info is stored in the diagram data structure and may be used for diagram documentation. Information format may be redefined by user.
Diagram:Region to Super Block
This menu allows to transform a rectangular region of the current diagram by a super block. Click on a corner of the region, drag an click left to fix the region (left click cancels selection). Region is replaced by a super block and links are redrawn.
Diagram:Up To Main Diagram
Opens, if closed, and puts the focus on the main diagram.
Diagram:Context
When you select this menu item you obtain a dialog to enter Scilab instructions for defining symbolic Scicos parameters used in block definitions or to do whatever you want. These instructions will be evaluated each time the diagram is loaded. If you change the value of a symbolic Scicos parameters in the context, all the blocks are updated (Eval is performed).
Palette:Palettes
Select the Palettes menu item to open a predefined palette.
Palette:Pal editor
Pal editor allows you to define and reorder the list of palettes.
Palette:Load as Palette
Select this Load menu item to load an ASCII or binary file containing a saved block diagram as a palette. A dialog box allows user choosing the file.
Palette:Save as Palette
Select the Save as Palette menu item to save the block diagram as a palette in a file. A dialog box allows choosing the file which must have a .cos or .cosf extension. The palette takes the name of the file (without the extension). If extension is ".cosf" an ASCII formatted save is performed instead of binary save. It may take a while. .scilab user file is updated if necessary.
Palette:Pal Tree
An alternative to Palettes menu for accessing palettes.
Edit:Undo (u)
Select the Undo menu item to undo the last edit operation. It is not possible to undo more!.
Edit:Cut
Cut is used to remove the selected object from the diagram and keep a copy in the clipboard if the object is a block.
Edit:Copy
Copy is used to place a copy of the selected object in the clipboard if the object is a block.
Edit:Paste
Paste places the object in the Clipboard in the diagram.
Edit:Duplicate (c)
To duplicate a block in the active editor Scicos window select first the Duplicate menu item, then click (with left button) on the to-be-copied block in Scicos windows or in a palette), and finally click left where you want the copy be placed in the active editor Scicos window. The lower left corner of the block is placed at the selected point. Right click cancel the copy action.
Edit:Delete (d)
To delete blocks or a links, select first the Delete menu item, then click successively on the selected objects (with left button). When you delete a block all links connected to it are deleted as well.
Edit:Move (m)
To move a block in the active editor Scicos window or in edited palette, select first the Move menu item, then click on the selected block, link segment or link corner, drag the mouse to the desired new block position and click left again to fix the position. Right click cancel the move action.
Edit:Smart Move (z)
To move a block in the active editor Scicos window or in edited palette keeping horizontal and vertical links, select first the "Smart Move" menu item, then click on the selected block, link segment or link corner, drag the mouse to the desired new position and click left again to fix the position. Right click cancel the move action.
Edit:Align (a)
To obtain nice diagrams, you can align ports of different blocks, vertically and horizontally. Select first the Align menu item, then click on the first port and finally on the second port. The block corresponding to the second port is moved. A connected block cannot be aligned.
Edit:Flip (f)
To reverse the positions of the (regular) inputs and outputs of a block placed on its sides, select the Flip menu item first and then click on the selected block. This does not affect the order, nor the position of the input and output event ports which are numbered from left to right.
Edit:Rotate Left (t)
Rotate Left allows to turn a block on the Left. Each time the block is turned left, his angle is decresead of 45 degrees. If no blocks or many blocks are selected, this is the block under the mouse pointer which turns.
Edit:Rotate Right (T)
Rotate Right allows to turn a block on the right. Each time the block is turned right, his angle is incresead of 45 degrees. If no blocks or many blocks are selected, this is the block under the mouse pointer which turns.
Edit:Add new block
To add a newly defined block to the current palette or diagram select first this menu item. A dialog box will pop up asking for the name of the GUI function associated with the block. If this function is not already loaded it was search in the current directory. The user may then click at the desired position of the block icon.
Edit:Block Documentation
This menu allows to set or get documentation for a block. Selecting this menu and clicking on a block opens an editable dialog box.
Edit:Label
To add a label to block, select first this menu item, click next on the desired block. A dialog appear that allows you to enter the desired label. Labels are used to import data from a block in an other one.
View:Zoom in (+)
When you select this menu item the diagram is zoomed in by a factor of 10%.
View:Zoom out (-)
When you select this menu item the diagram is zoomed out by a factor of 10%.
View:Fit diagram to figure (=)
When you select this menu item the diagram is fit to the size of the current window.
View:Default window parameters
View:Available Parameters
This menu shows the list of symbolic parameters defined in various contexts and available for use in the definition of block parameters in this diagram. The values of the parameters are also displayed (unless the size is too big.
View:Grid (g)
Show/hide a grid in the current diagram.
Simulate:Setup
In the main Scicos window, clicking on the Setup menu item invokes a dialog box that allows you to change integration parameters: - Final integration time (integration ends at this time, it always starts from 0), - Real time scaling (forces real time simulation by setting Scicos unit of time to 1 second), - Absolute and relative error tolerances (solver properties), - Time tolerance (the smallest time interval for which the ode solver is used to update continuous states), - Max integration time interval (the maximum time interval for each call to solver, it must be reduced if the error message "too many calls" is encountered), - Solver (choose the numerical solver to be used), Max step size (max time step taken by solver).
Simulate:Compile
Select the Compile menu item to compile the block diagram. This menu item need never be used since compilation is performed automatically, if necessary, before the beginning of every simulation (Run menu item). Normally, a new compilation is not needed if only system parameters and internal states are modified. In some cases however these modifications are not correctly updated and a manual compilation may be needed before a Restart or a Continue. Please report if you encounter such a case.
Simulate:Eval
All dialogs user answers may be Scilab instructions. They are evaluated immediately and stored as character strings. Select this menu item to have them re-evaluated according to new values of underlying Scilab variables. These underlying Scilab variables may be user global variables defined before Scicos was launch, They may also be defined in by the Scicos context (see Context menu item).
Simulate:Debug Level
Set the debug level: 0 (no debugging), 1 (light debugging information printout), 2 (more information printout and execution of Debug Block if any in diagram), 3 (silent debugging mode).
Simulate:Run
Select the Run menu item to start the simulation. If the system has already been simulated, a dialog box appears where you can choose to Continue, Restart or End the simulation. You may interrupt the simulation by clicking on the "stop" button, change any of the block parameters and continue the simulation with the new values.
Format:Set grid
Set the size and the color of the grid for the current diagram.
Format:Add color
This menu allows to add new color to the diagram private color map. Added colors are stored in the diagram data structure.
Format:Default link colors
This menu allows to change the default color for regular and activation links.
Format:Color
To change the background color of an object, select first this menu item, click next on the desired object. A dialog appear that allows you to choose the desired color.
Format:Background color
This menu allows to change the background and default foreground colors.
Format:Show Block Shadow
This menu allows to select 3D shape for blocks and associated parameters.
Format:Resize
To change the size of a block, select first this menu item, click next on the desired block. A dialog appear that allows you to change the width and/or height of the block shape.
Format:Identification
This menu allows to set an identificator to a link or a block block identificators are drawn under the block icon. Super blocks input/output ports identificators are replicated over the block shape ports. Links identificators are not displayed. Selecting this menu and clicking on a block or links opens an editable dialog box.
Format:ID fonts
This menu allows to change the font used to write in the block identifications (see "Set block ID" menu).
Format:Icon
To change the icon of a block, select first this menu item, click next on the desired block. A dialog appear that allows you to enter Scilab instructions used to draw the icon. You may use the icon_editor menu to generate the Scilab instructions.
Format:Icon Editor
Icon Editor allows you to define graphically the icon of the block.
Tools:Create Mask
This menu applies only to a Super Block, transforming it into a block that resembles a basic block with a standard dialog box. The block parameters are identifed automatically by searching all the symbolic parameters used in the definition of the block parameters inside the Super block that are not defined in the appropriate contexts within the Super Block;
Tools:Remove Mask
This menu applies only to an already masked block. It removes the mask and the Super Block within it can be recovered. Note that the icon of the Super Block remains the same as that of the masked block.
Tools:Customize Mask
Creating a mask leads to a block with parameters that can be set by the block's dialog box. The title and the description of the parameters in the dialog box can be set by this menu.
Tools:Save Block GUI
This operation can only be applied to a masked block (see Create Mask operation). The result, the interfacing function of this block, is saved in an .sci file, which can be placed in any diagram/palette using the Add New Block operation. The interfacing function is loaded autmatically for immediate use after the operation. Note that the resulting block is not a masked block; it is a compiled super block.
Tools:Get Info (i)
This menu allows user to obtain information on an object and on its connection with other diagram objects. Select this menu and click on an object. See also 'Details' menu.
Tools:Details
This item can be applied to a block, link or text. It can also be applied to the diagram. In either case, it displays the content of the Scilab structure defining the object.
Tools:Browser
This menu opens a graphic window with a tree representation of the super blocks hierarchy. Each node represents a Super Block. Browser window is useful to open directly a Super Block everywhere in the hierarchy. To open the main diagram if it has been closed, use the 'Up to Main Diagram' menu.
Tools:Code Generation
This menu allows to generate the simulation code associated with a discrete time Super Block. The code generation is obtained simply by selecting this menu and then the desired Super Block. If the Super Block satisfies the required conditions, a dialog box pops up to ask for a block name, a directory where to put the generated files and for optional libraries requested by the linker. Given this information the code is generated, compiled and linked with Scilab. The Super Block is automatically replaced by a new block which implements the generated code. It is then possible to run the modified diagram. The code for standalone use is also generated.
Tools:Shortcuts
Used to define personalized shortcuts.
Tools:Activate Scilab Window
This item activates the Scilab window without closing the Scicos diagram. You can use Scilab as usual and later return to editing your Scicos diagram. Note that if you activate the Scilab window with this menu without saving your diagram, if you leave Scilab without returning to Scicos, your diagram will be lost.
Tools:Calc
When you select this menu item you switch Scilab to the pause mode (see the help on pause). In the Scilab main window and you may enter Scilab instructions as usual. In most cases, user should use the 'Activate Scilab Window' menu instead. The 'Calc' menu should only be used for advanced debugging.
?:Help (h)
To get help on an object or menu buttons, select first Help menu item and then on the selected object or menu item.
?:Scicos Documentation
That item opens the html browser.
?:Demos
The Demos menu allows to open some examples of scicos diagram.
?:About Scicos
About Scicos item display the current version of Scicos and gives some useful informations.