Simulink Constructs that Support Enumerations

Overview

In general, all Simulink tools and constructs support enumerated types for which the support makes sense given the purpose of enumerated types: to represent program states and to control program logic. The Simulink Editor, Simulink Debugger, Port Value Displays, referenced models, subsystems, masks, buses, data logging, and most other Simulink capabilities support enumerated types without imposing any special requirements.

Enumerated types are not intended for mathematical computation, so no block that computes a numeric output (as distinct from passing a numeric input through to the output) supports enumerated types. Thus an enumerated type is not considered to be a numeric type, even though an enumerated value has an underlying integer. See Enumerated Values in Computation for more information.

Most capabilities that do not support enumerated types obviously could not support them. Therefore, the Simulink documentation usually mentions enumerated type nonsupport only where necessary to prevent a misconception or describe an exception. See Simulink Enumeration Limitations for information about certain constructs that could support enumerated types but do not.

Back to Top

Block Support

The following Simulink blocks support enumerated types:

• Constant (but Enumerated Constant is preferable)

• Data Type Conversion

• Data Type Conversion Inherited

• Data Type Duplicate

• Display

• MATLAB Function

• Enumerated Constant

• Floating Scope

• From File

• From Workspace

• Inport

• Interval Test

• Interval Test Dynamic

• Multiport Switch

• Outport

• Probe (input only)

• Relational Operator

• Relay (output only)

• Repeating Sequence Stair

• Scope

• Signal Specification

• Switch

• Switch Case

• To File

• To Workspace

All members of the following categories of Simulink blocks support enumerated types:

• Bus-capable blocks (see Bus-Capable Blocks)

• Pass-through blocks:

  • With state, like the Data Store Memory and Unit Delay blocks.

  • Without state, like the Mux block.

Many Simulink blocks in addition to those named above support enumerated types, but they either belong to one of the categories listed above, or are rarely used with enumerated types. The Data Type Support section of each block reference page describes all data types that the block supports.

Back to Top

Class Support

The following Simulink classes support enumerated types:

• Simulink.Signal

• Simulink.Parameter

• Simulink.AliasType

• Simulink.BusElement

Back to Top

Logging Enumerated Data

Root-level outports, To Workspace blocks, and Scope blocks can all export enumerated values. Signal and State logging work with enumerated data in the same way as with any other data. All logging formats are supported. The From File block does not support enumerated data. Use the From Workspace block instead, combined with some technique for transferring data between a file and a workspace. See Importing and Exporting Simulation Data for more information.

Back to Top

Importing Enumerated Data

Root-level inports and From Workspace blocks can output enumerated signals during simulation. Data must be provided in a Structure, Structure with Time, or TimeSeries object. No interpolation occurs for enumerated values between the specified simulation times. From File blocks produce only data of type double, so they do not support enumerated types. See Importing and Exporting Simulation Data for more information.

Back to Top

Using Enumerated Data in Simulink Models

Simulink Enumeration Limitations

Related Products & Applications

• Simulink
• Control Design
• Signal Processing & Communications
• Model-Based Design
• Physical Modeling
• Verification & Validation

Get Simulink trial software

Learn more about Simulink through this collection of videos, articles, technical literature and the Getting Started with Simulink Guide.

Get this Simulink Kit