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add_line

Add line to Simulink model

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Syntax

h = add_line(sys,out,in)
h = add_line(sys,out,in,'autorouting',autoOption)
h = add_line(sys,points)

Description

h = add_line(sys,out,in) adds a line in the model or subsystem sys that connects one block's output port out to another block's input port in. This syntax draws the most direct route from port to port, for example, diagonal lines or lines that go through other blocks.

You can connect ports when:

  • The input port does not already have a connection.

  • The ports are compatible for connecting.

  • The ports are either both at the top level of the model hierarchy or both in the same model component, for example, in the same subsystem. To connect blocks in different components, use the Simulink.connectBlocks function.

example

h = add_line(sys,out,in,'autorouting',autoOption) connects blocks, specifying whether to route the lines around other blocks.

example

h = add_line(sys,points) adds a line drawn by (x,y) coordinate points relative to the upper-left corner of the Simulink® Editor canvas before any canvas resizing. If either end of the line is within five pixels of a corresponding port, the function connects the line to it. The line can have multiple segments.

example

Examples

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Open Live Script

Create and open a new model.

open_system(new_system('myModel'));

Add and position a Constant block.

add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Constant','myModel/Constant');
set_param('myModel/Constant','position',[140,80,180,120]);

Add and position a Gain block.

add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain','myModel/Gain');
set_param('myModel/Gain','position',[220,80,260,120]);

Connect the output port of the Constant block to the input port of the Gain block. Since the Constant block only has one output port, the only port number you can specify for the Constant block is 1. Since the Gain block only has one input port, the only port number you can specify for the Gain block is 1. 

add_line('myModel','Constant/1','Gain/1');

Add and position a Scope block.

add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Scope','myModel/Scope');
set_param('myModel/Scope','position',[300,80,340,120]);

Change the number of input ports of the Scope block to 2.

set_param('myModel/Scope','NumInputPorts','2')

Connect the output port of the Gain block to the second input port of the Scope block. Since the Gain block only has one output port, the only port number you can specify for the Gain block is 1. Since you want to connect to the second port of the Scope block, for the Scope block, specify the port number 2.

add_line('myModel','Gain/1','Scope/2');
Open Live Script

Open the example. Then, open the vdp model.

open_system('vdp')

Delete the line that connects the masked Subsystem block named Mu to the Sum block.

delete_line('vdp','Mu/1','Sum/2');

Get the port handles from the masked Subsystem block named Mu and the Sum block.

h1 = get_param('vdp/Mu','PortHandles');
h2 = get_param('vdp/Sum','PortHandles')
h2 = struct with fields:
      Inport: [324.0006 325.0006]
     Outport: 326.0006
      Enable: []
     Trigger: []
       State: []
       LConn: []
       RConn: []
    Ifaction: []
       Reset: []
       Event: []

In the h2 structure, note the two handles for the Inport property.

Connect the Subsystem block named Mu to the Gain block. Specify the ports to connect by indexing into the Inport and Outport properties of the port handles.

add_line('vdp',h1.Outport(1),h2.Inport(2));
Open Live Script

You can programmatically make a connection that branches an existing signal line. You can use the points syntax to draw the segment, or you can draw the line by specifying the ports to connect. When using the ports, use automatic line routing to improve the layout of the branched line.

This example shows how to make a connection with a branched signal line using ports.

Open the example. Then, open the vdp model.

open_system('vdp')

Add a Scope block to the vdp model.

add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Scope','vdp/Scope1');

Position the Scope block above the Outport block.

set_param('vdp/Scope1','position',[470,70,500,110]);

Connect the Integrator block named x1 to the Scope block named Scope1. 

add_line('vdp','x1/1','Scope1/1','autorouting','on')

The command branches the existing line from the Integrator block named x1 and connects it to the Scope block named Scope1. With autorouting on, the resulting line is segmented.

Open Live Script

Open the example. Then, open the vdp model.

open_system('vdp')

Delete the line that connects the masked Subsystem block named Mu to the Sum block.

delete_line('vdp','Mu/1','Sum/2')

Get the port locations for the masked Subsystem block named Mu. Mu has two ports: one input port and one output port.

mu = get_param('vdp/Mu','PortConnectivity');
mu.Position
ans = 1×2

   210   150


ans = 1×2

   250   150

The first set of coordinates corresponds to the input block. The second set corresponds to the output block.

Get the port locations for the Sum block, which has three ports: two input ports and one output port.

s = get_param('vdp/Sum','PortConnectivity');
s.Position
ans = 1×2

   310   135


ans = 1×2

   310   150


ans = 1×2

   345   145

The first set of coordinates corresponds to the upper input port, the second set corresponds to the lower input port, and the third corresponds to the output port.

To connect the masked Subsystem block named Mu to the Sum block, specify the coordinates of the output port of the Subsystem block then the coordinates of the lower input port of the Sum block.

add_line('vdp',[250 150; 310 150])
Open Live Script

You can add lines with and without autorouting options.

Add Blocks to Model

Create a new model named myModel.

open_system(new_system('myModel'))

Turn the HideAutomaticNames parameter off.

set_param('myModel','HideAutomaticNames','off')

Add two Subsystem blocks and a Gain block.

add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Subsystem','myModel/Subsystem1');
add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Subsystem','myModel/Subsystem2');
add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain','myModel/Gain');

Position the blocks such that the Gain block is between the two Subsystem blocks.

set_param('myModel/Subsystem1','position',[100 100 130 130]);
set_param('myModel/Gain','position',[230,100,260,130]);
set_param('myModel/Subsystem2','position',[360,100,390,130]);

Add an additional input port and output port to each Subsystem block.

add_block('simulink/Sources/In1','myModel/Subsystem1/In2');
add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Out1','myModel/Subsystem1/Out2');

add_block('simulink/Sources/In1','myModel/Subsystem2/In2');
add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Out1','myModel/Subsystem2/Out2');

Connect Blocks Without Autorouting

Add lines to connect the output ports of the Subsystem block named Subsystem1 to the input ports of the Subsystem block named Subsystem2.

add_line('myModel',{'Subsystem1/1','Subsystem1/2'},{'Subsystem2/1','Subsystem2/2'})

Connect Blocks With Autorouting

Delete the lines.

delete_line('myModel','Subsystem1/1','Subsystem2/1')
delete_line('myModel','Subsystem1/2','Subsystem2/2')

Add the lines again using the smart autorouting option. When you use an array to connect two sets of input and output ports, smart autorouting routes them together if doing so makes better use of the space.

add_line('myModel',{'Subsystem1/1','Subsystem1/2'},{'Subsystem2/1','Subsystem2/2'},'autorouting','smart')

Input Arguments

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Model or subsystem to add the line to, specified as a character vector.

Example: 'vdp'

Example: 'f14/Controller'

Block output port to connect line from, specified as one of these values:

  • The block name, a slash, and the port number. For a state port, use the port name State instead of a port number.

  • The port handle that you want to connect from.

  • An array of either of these port designators.

Use 'PortHandles' with get_param to get the handles.

Example: 'Mu/1'

Example: 'Subsystem/2'

Example: h.Outport(1)

Example: {'Subsystem/1','Subsystem/2'}

Tips

Block input port to connect line to, specified as one of these values:

  • The block name, a slash, and the port number. Use a port name instead of a port number for these ports:

    • Enable port — Use Enable. For example, use this port name for the enable port on enabled subsystems.

    • Trigger port — Use Trigger. For example, use this port name for the trigger port on triggered subsystems.

    • Action port — Use Ifaction. For example, use this port name for the action port on if-action and switch-case-action subsystems.

  • The port handle that you want to add the line to.

  • An array of either of these port designators.

Use the 'PortHandles' option with get_param to get handles.

Example: 'Mu/1'

Example: 'Subsystem/2'

Example: h.Inport(1)

Example: {'Subsystem/1','Subsystem/2'}

Tips

Type of automatic line routing around other blocks, specified as:

  • 'off' for no automatic line routing

  • 'on' for automatic line routing

  • 'smart' for automatic line routing that takes the best advantage of the blank spaces on the canvas and avoids overlapping other lines and labels

Points of the line to draw, specified as at least a 2-by-2 matrix. Add a row for every segment you want to draw. Specify points as (x,y) coordinates from the upper-left corner of the Editor before any canvas resizing.

Example: [100 300; 200 300; 200 300; 200 500]

Output Arguments

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Line created by add_line, returned as a handle.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

See Also

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