Learn more about Simscape

Version 3.1 (R2009a) Simscape Software

This table summarizes what's new in Version 3.1 (R2009a):

New Features and Changes	Version Compatibility Considerations	Fixed Bugs and Known Problems	Related Documentation at Web Site
Yes Details below	Yes—Details labeled as Compatibility Considerations, below. See also Summary.	Bug Reports Includes fixes	No

New features and changes introduced in this version are

• Simscape Language Source Protection

• Expanded MATLAB Support of Simscape Files

• Viewable and Customizable Source Files for Foundation Library Blocks

• Simscape Language Syntax Changes

• Increased Efficiency of Simscape Language Equations Processing

• New Physical Signal Blocks to Facilitate Rounding

• Model Reference Accelerator Mode Support

• Changes to Simscape Demos

Simscape Language Source Protection

Simscape language files can be protected to enable model sharing without disclosing the component or domain source. You can then share the protected (executable) files without disclosing the file content (similar to P-code vs M-code). While Simscape source files have the extension .ssc, Simscape protected files have the extension .sscp.

Use the ssc_protect command to protect individual files and directories.

Use the ssc_mirror command to create a protected copy of a whole package, along with a custom block library built from it.

For more information, see Using Source Protection for Simscape Files.

Expanded MATLAB Support of Simscape Files

MATLAB support of Simscape files has been expanded:

• If you issue the open command on a Simscape file, the file will open in the MATLAB Editor. The Simscape file must be on the MATLAB path, or in a package residing in a directory on the MATLAB path. For more information on packaging Simscape files, see Organizing Your Simscape Files.

  If you issue the open command on a Simscape protected file (*.sscp), the corresponding Simscape source file (*.ssc) will open, provided it exists in the same directory as the Simscape protected file.

• Issuing the help command on a Simscape file displays the domain or component description, that is, all the comments immediately following the domain or component declaration, in the MATLAB Command Window.

• MATLAB Editor now supports syntax highlighting of Simscape files, similar to M-files. For more information, see Appearance of an M-File — Making Files More Readable.

Viewable and Customizable Source Files for Foundation Library Blocks

You can now view the source files for many Foundation library blocks. When you open the block dialog box, it contains a link:

View source for BlockName

Click this link to open the Simscape source file for this block in the MATLAB Editor. To customize the block for your application, edit the source file and save it in a package directory. For more information, see Using Simscape Files in Block Diagrams.

Compatibility Considerations

The block source has been optimized, with some previously defined but unused variables eliminated. Therefore, when you load an old model containing Foundation blocks, you might get warnings, for example:

Warning: In instantiating linked block 'model/R1' : Resistor block (mask) does not 
have a parameter named 'current_Log'.

You can safely ignore these warnings. Once you save the model, the warnings will disappear.

Simscape Language Syntax Changes

The following changes have been implemented in Simscape language:

• The throughs keyword has been obsoleted. Use variables(Balancing=true) to declare Through variables in a domain.

• The equation keyword has been changed to equations.

• The name of a Simscape file must match the name of the component or domain it defines. If this is not the case, you will get an error when trying to build a library or use the block in a model.

For more information, see the Simscape Language Guide.

Compatibility Considerations

The changes are relatively minor, but may require modifying your existing Simscape files. The following table summarizes the old and new syntax.

Old Syntax	New Syntax
throughs	variables(Balancing=true)
equation	equations

Increased Efficiency of Simscape Language Equations Processing

Simscape language equations are now processed more efficiently, reducing the time required to process equations with multiple if statements.

New Physical Signal Blocks to Facilitate Rounding

Three new Physical Signal blocks have been added to the Nonlinear Operators library:

• PS Ceil block performs rounding of the signal toward positive infinity

• PS Floor block performs rounding of the signal toward negative infinity

• PS Fix block performs rounding of the signal toward zero

Model Reference Accelerator Mode Support

Simscape and its vertical products now support Model Reference Accelerator Mode for model simulation, but not for code generation. Model Reference Accelerator Mode for code generation is supported only by SimMechanics™ and SimDriveline™ software.

Changes to Simscape Demos

The following demo has been added in Version 3.1:

Demo Name	Description
Creating A New Circuit (ssc_new_elec)	Use this demo as a template for creating a new electrical model. Open the demo and use File > Save As to save it under the desired model name. Then delete the unwanted components and add new ones. This demo also opens an Electrical Starter Palette, which contains links to the most often used electrical components.

Version 3.2 (R2009b) Simscape Software

Version 3.0 (R2008b) Simscape Software

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