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Preserve Tunability of Parameters That Are Modified or Created in Mask Initialization

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A desirable feature of code generated from a model is the ability to tune variables to different values. To achieve this, user-defined variables in the model must be present in the generated code. If a model contained blocks with mask initialization commands that creates a new variable or modified an existing mask dialog parameter in the mask initialization, and if that parameter or variable is referenced in a child block, the values of the mask parameter or variable were in-lined in the generated code. The parameters were not tunable even if they referred to a workspace variable.

You can preserve the tunability of the mask parameters. The expressions corresponding to mask parameters referenced in the child block appear in the generated code. The expression is generated even if the parameters are created in mask initialization section of the top-level mask. The tunability of these parameters is retained only if the mask initialization code is created using a mask callback file and the parameter value is defined in the format mentioned in the example. See Organize Mask Initialization and Callbacks in a MATLAB File.

Explore the Model

This example shows two scenarios in which the tunability of parameters is preserved in the generated code.

The first scenario demonstrates how tunability is preserved when a parameter is modified in the mask initialization code. The model contains a Subsystem block DataRounding, which rounds numerical data by a preferred rounding method. The value of the mask parameter is modified in the mask initialization code according to the selected rounding method in mask dialog box.

The second scenario demonstrates how tunability is preserved when a parameter is created in the mask initialization code. The model contains a Subsystem block CalculateForce which calculates force as the product of mass and acceleration. The parameter outForce is created in the mask initialization code to calculate force.

open_system("slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfMaskInitVariable.slx")

Preserve Tunability of Mask Parameters Modified in Mask Initialization Code

Preserve the tunability of a parameter in generated code if the mask parameter is modified in the mask initialization code.

1. Create a mask on the Subsystem block DataRounding.

2. In the Mask Editor, create an edit parameter Data and a popup parameter DataRoundingMode with options floor, Round, and Nearest.

3. In the Code tab, enter the Callback File Name as maskInitFuncDataChange. Include this code in the editor.

classdef maskInitFuncDataChange
     methods(Static)
       function MaskInitialization(maskInitContext)
         ws = maskInitContext.MaskWorkspace;
         ws.set('Data','maskInitFuncDataChange.updateData','Data', 'DataRoundingMode');
       end
       function outData = updateData(inData, inRoundingMode)
         switch(inRoundingMode)
            case 1
               outData = floor(inData);
            case 2
               outData = round(inData);
            case 3
               outData = nearest(inData);
            otherwise
               outData = inRoundingMode;
            end
       end
    end
end

The function updateData updates the parameter Data based on the selected DataRoundingMode.

4. Click Save Mask.

5. Double-click the block DataRounding. In the Block Parameters dialog box, enter the value for Data as 5.3 and select the Data Rounding Mode as Round. Click OK.

6. Simulate the model and generate code.

/* Model step function */
void slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfMaskInitVariable_step(void)
{
    /* Outport: '<Root>/Out1' incorporates:
    *  Constant: '<S1>/Constant'
    */
    switch ((int32_T)slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.DataRounding_DataRoundingMode)
    {
    case 1:
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 =
        slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.DataRounding_Data;
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 = floor
        (slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1);
    break;
    case 2:
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 =
        slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.DataRounding_Data;
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 = rt_roundd_snf
        (slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1);
    break;
    case 3:
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 =
        slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.DataRounding_Data + 0.5;
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 = floor
        (slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1);
    break;
    default:
    slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out1 =
        slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.DataRounding_DataRoundingMode;
    break;
    }

     /* End of Outport: '<Root>/Out1' */
 }

Observe that tunability is preserved for the mask parameter Data in the generated code.

Preserve Tunability of Mask Parameters Created in Mask Initialization Code

In the example model, the subsystem block CalculateForce calculates force. The parameter outForce is created in the mask initialization code to calculate force as the product of mass and acceleration. The generated code contains an expression for the parameter outForce.

1. Create a mask on the subsystem CalculateForce.

2. In the Mask Editor, create edit parameters mass and acceleration.

3. In the Code tab, enter the Callback File Name as maskInitFuncNewVariable. Include this in the editor.

classdef maskInitFuncNewVariable
   methods(Static)
     function MaskInitialization(maskInitContext)
         ws = maskInitContext.MaskWorkspace;
         ws.set('force','maskInitFuncNewVariable.calculateForce', 'mass', 'acceleration');
     end
     function outForce = calculateForce(inMass, inAcceleration)
         outForce = inMass * inAcceleration;
     end
   end
end

The function calculateForce takes the arguments mass and acceleration and calculates the outForce as the product of mass and acceleration. See Author Mask Callback Code in MATLAB File section in Organize Mask Initialization and Callbacks in a MATLAB File for more information about setting and retrieving values from mask workspace.

4. Click Save Mask.

5. Double-click the block CalculateForce. In the Block Parameters dialog box, enter the value for Mass as 100 and Acceleration as 10. Click OK.

6. Simulate the model and generate code.

/* Model step function */
void slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfMaskInitVariable_step(void)
{
    /* Outport: '<Root>/Out2' incorporates:
     *  Constant: '<S1>/Constant'
     */
  slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_Y.Out2 =
  slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.CalculateForce_mass *
  slexMaskPreserveTunabilityOfM_P.CalculateForce_acceleration;
}

Observe that the expression corresponding to the variable is generated in the code.

Limitations

  • Tunability will not be preserved if the function that modifies or creates the mask parameter contains Simulink® APIs such as get_param and set_param.

  • Tunability will not be preserved if the same mask parameter is modified using a simple set API(ws.set('Parameter1', '5'). Tunability of the mask parameter is retained only if the variable is modified using ws.set(' modified/new variableName ', ' outpuitFunction ', ' maskParamName1 ', ' maskParamName2 ') format.

  • To preserve tunability, write any such code involving get_param and set_param inside the mask initialization function and pass the value as an argument to the function which modifies/creates mask parameter value.

  • The function call to modify or create mask parameters must be in the following format:

i. The first argument of the function call must be the mask parameter that you want to modify or create. This argument must be a string.

ii. The second argument must be the function that modifies or creates the mask parameter and it should be in the form className. functionName. The function must be static.

iii. The next set of arguments must be mask parameter names that are passed to the static function. These parameters must be strings.

iv. Other values you want to pass to this function must not be strings. You must pass the argument names or values.

Example:

classdef mycallback
  methods(Static)
     function MaskInitialization(maskInitContext)
          ws = maskInitContext.MaskWorkspace;
          constVal = 5;
          ws.set('newVar','mycallback.update','maskParam1', constVal);
     end
     function out = update(in1,  in2)
          out = in1+in2;
     end
 end
end

See Also

Tune Mask Enumeration Parameters - Popup and Radio Button| Design a Mask Dialog Box