Variant Component

Add components with alternative designs

Description

Use a Variant Component block to create multiple design alternatives for a component.

To add or connect System Composer™ components:

• Add an architecture Variant Component block from the Modeling tab or the palette. You can also click and drag a box on the canvas, then select the Variant Component block. You can also create a variant component from a component or reference component. Right-click on the component and select Add Variant Choice.

• To add a port, select an edge of the component and choose a direction from the menu: Input or Output

• Click and drag the port to create a connection. Connect to another component. You can also create a new component to complete the connection.

• To connect Variant Component blocks to architecture or composition model root ports, drag from the component ports to the containing model boundary. When you release the connection, a root port is created at the boundary.

To manage Variant Component choices:

• By default, two variant choices are created when you create a Variant Component block. Right-click the Variant Component block and select Variant > Label Mode Active Choice, then select the active choice.

• To add an additional variant choice, right-click on the Variant Component block and select Variant > Add Variant Choice.

• Double-click into the Variant Component block to design the variants within it.

• Use the Variant Manager to easily switch between variant choices in a complex model hierarchy. Right-click on the Variant Component block and select Variant > Open in Variant Manager. For more information, see Variant Manager for Simulink.

Ports

Input

Source — Input connection from another component

interface

If you connect to a source component, the interfaces on the ports are shared.

Output

Destination — Output connection to another component

interface

If you connect to a destination component, the interfaces on the ports are shared.

Model Examples

Design Insulin Infusion Pump Using Model-Based Systems Engineering

Design an insulin infusion pump with variant analysis using System Composer.

Open Live Script

Calculate Endurance Using Quadcopter Architectural Design

Design quadcopter by calculating endurance using System Composer analysis.

Open Live Script

More About

Definitions

Term	Definition	Application	More Information
architecture	A System Composer architecture represents a system of components and how they interface with each other structurally and behaviorally. You can represent specific architectures using alternate views.	Different types of architectures describe different aspects of systems: Functional architecture describes the flow of data in a system. Logical architecture describes the intended operation of a system. Physical architecture describes the platform or hardware in a system. You can define parameters on the architecture level using the Parameter Editor.	Compose Architectures Visually Author Parameters in System Composer Using Parameter Editor
model	A System Composer model is the file that contains architectural information, including components, ports, connectors, interfaces, and behaviors.	Perform operations on a model: Extract the root-level architecture contained in the model. Apply profiles. Link interface data dictionaries. Generate instances from model architecture. A System Composer model is stored as an SLX file.	Create Architecture Model with Interfaces and Requirement Links
component	A component is a nontrivial, nearly independent, and replaceable part of a system that fulfills a clear function in the context of an architecture. A component defines an architectural element, such as a function, a system, hardware, software, or other conceptual entity. A component can also be a subsystem or subfunction.	Represented as a block, a component is a part of an architecture model that can be separated into reusable artifacts. Transfer information between components with: Port interfaces using the Interface Editor Parameters using the Parameter Editor	Components
port	A port is a node on a component or architecture that represents a point of interaction with its environment. A port permits the flow of information to and from other components or systems.	There are different types of ports: Component ports are interaction points on the component to other components. Architecture ports are ports on the boundary of the system, whether the boundary is within a component or the overall architecture model.	Ports
connector	Connectors are lines that provide connections between ports. Connectors describe how information flows between components or architectures.	A connector allows two components to interact without defining the nature of the interaction. Set an interface on a port to define how the components interact.	Connections

Term	Definition	Application	More Information
variant	A variant is one of many structural or behavioral choices in a variant component.	Use variants to quickly swap different architectural designs for a component while performing analysis.	Create Variants
variant control	A variant control is a string that controls the active variant choice.	Set the variant control to programmatically control which variant is active.	Set Variant Control Condition

Version History

Introduced in R2019a