SysML Diagrams
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      Parametric Diagram

      Show mathematical relationships, performance constraints, and parameters among the pieces of the system being designed with Innoslate's Parametric Diagram.

      Using Parametric Diagrams

      Function Description
      Creating Parametric Diagrams Using the ‘Manage Diagrams Dashboard’ in Innoslate, you can create a new ‘Parametric Diagram’.
      Parametric Diagram Constructs The ‘Parametric Diagram’ supports five unique diagram constructs: a ‘Block (Asset),’ a ‘Parameter (Characteristic),’ a ‘Value (Characteristic), ‘Constraint (Equation),’ and a ‘Connector.’
      Adding a Constraint A ‘Constraint’ can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.
      Adding a Block A ‘Block’ can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.
      Adding a Value A ‘Value’ can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.
      Adding a Parameter A ‘Parameter’ can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.
      Adding a Connector A ‘Connector’ can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.
      Removing a Construct A construct can be easily removed from a ‘Parametric Diagram.’

       

      The ‘Parametric Diagram’ is a structure diagram showing mathematical relationships, performance constraints, and parameters among the pieces of the system being designed.

      Parametric-Diagram

      Creating Parametric Diagrams

      Within the ‘Diagrams Dashboard,’ users can create a new diagram by clicking the ‘+ Create Diagram’ button on the right of the page.

      create_activity-2-1536x776-3

       

      Clicking the ‘+ Create Diagram’ button will open the Create Diagram dialog where you will be directed through the process of creating a new diagram.

      Create a Parametric Diagram

      1. Choose Which Type of Diagram to Create

      In step one, select ‘Parametric Diagram,’ under ‘SysML,’ as your diagram type.

                    create_para_step1-1

       

      2. Click the ‘Next’ button.

                    create_para_step1-2

      3. Specify New Root Equation Information

      In step three, you will be prompted to input a diagram ‘Name,’ ‘Number’ (optional), and ‘Description’ (optional). Then, click the ‘Finish’ button to save and automatically open your new Parametric Diagram.

                     create_para_step2

      Parametric Diagram Constructs

      The ‘Parametric Diagram‘ supports four unique diagram constructs: a ‘Constraint,’ a ‘Block,’ a ‘Value,’ a ‘Parameter,’ and a ‘Connector.’ Each diagram construct is described in more detail below:

      • Constraint


                                                                 constraint construct-parametric diagram

      • Block


                                                                 block construct-parametric diagram

      • Value


                                                                  value construct-parametric diagram

      • Parameter


                                                                   parameter construct-parametric diagram

        Connector


                                 connector construct-parametric diagram

      Adding a Constraint

      A ‘Constraint’ construct can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram‘ via drag-and-drop.

      1. Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ click the ‘Constraints (Equation)’ icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

        add_constraint_para_step1

      2. Drag the ‘Constraints (Equation)‘ icon over to the adjacent diagram canvas.

        add_constraint_para_step2

      3. Release the left mouse button while over the diagram canvas to drop the new ‘Constraint’ and add it to the diagram.

        add_constraint_para_step3

         

        Notice the ‘Constraint‘ stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to include additional ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes,’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.

      4. Once added to the diagram, enter a meaningful ‘Name’ for your new ‘Constraint‘ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

        add_constraint_para_step4

      5. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

        add_constraint_para_step5

      * Note: The above process describes using the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar, which automatically generates a new entity to represent each new diagram construct. If you would like to reuse existing entities from your database to represent a new construct, use the ‘Existing’ tab instead.

      Adding a Block

      A ‘Block’ construct can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram‘ via drag-and-drop. A ‘Block’ must be added to the diagram before a ‘Value’ construct can be added.

      1. Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ click the ‘Block (Asset)’ icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

        add_block_para_step1

      2. Drag the ‘Block (Asset)‘ icon over to the adjacent diagram canvas.

        add_block_para_step2

      3. Release the left mouse button while over the diagram canvas to drop the new ‘Block’ and add it to the diagram.

        add_block_para_step3

         

        Notice the ‘Block’ stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to include additional ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes,’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.

      4. Once added to the diagram, enter a meaningful ‘Name’ for your new ‘Block’ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

        add_block_para_step4

      5. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

        add_block_para_step5

      * Note: The above process describes using the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar, which automatically generates a new entity to represent each new diagram construct. If you would like to reuse existing entities from your database to represent a new construct, use the ‘Existing’ tab instead.

      Adding a Value

      A ‘Value’ construct can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram‘ via drag-and-drop. A ‘Block’ must be added to the diagram first before this construct can be added.

      1. Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ click the ‘value (Characteristic)’ icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

        add_value_para_step1-1

      2. Drag the ‘Value (Characteristic)‘ icon over to the adjacent diagram canvas.

        add_value_para_step2-1

      3. When the ‘Block’ box highlights green, release the left mouse button to drop the new ‘Value’ and add it to the diagram.

        add_value_para_step3-1

         

        Notice the ‘Value‘ stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to include additional ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes,’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.

      4. Once added to the diagram, enter a meaningful ‘Name’ for your new ‘Value‘ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

        add_value_para_step4-1

      5. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

        add_value_para_step5-1

      * Note: The above process describes using the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar, which automatically generates a new entity to represent each new diagram construct. If you would like to reuse existing entities from your database to represent a new construct, use the ‘Existing’ tab instead.

      Adding a Parameter

      A ‘Parameter’ construct can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram‘ via drag-and-drop.

      Adding an Unattached Parameter

      1.   Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ click the ‘Parameter (Characteristic)’ icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

      add_parameter_para_step1

      2.   Drag the ‘Parameter (Characteristic)’ icon over to the adjacent diagram canvas.

      add_parameter_para_step2

      3.   Release the left mouse button while over the diagram canvas to drop the new ‘Parameter’ and add it to the diagram. The ‘Parameter’ will automatically snap to the nearest invisible grid intersection. Notice the ‘Parameter’ stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to include additional ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes,’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.

      add_parameter_para_step3

      4.   Once added to the diagram, enter a meaningful ‘Name’ for your new ‘Parameter’ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

      add_parameter_para_step4

      5.   Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

      add_parameter_para_step5

      Adding a Parameter to a Constraint

      1.   Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ click the ‘Parameter’ icon in the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

      add_parameter_constraint_para_step1

      2.   Drag the ‘Parameter (Characteristic)’ icon over to the destination ‘Constraint’ of your choice.

      add_parameter_constraint_para_step2

      3.   When the ‘Constraint’ box highlights green, release the left mouse button to drop the new ‘Parameter’ and add it to the diagram. The ‘Parameter’ will be added to the border of the ‘Constraint’ construct.

      add_parameter_constraint_para_step3

      Notice that the ‘Parameter’ name remains highlighted in the New Parameter window under the Attribute tab.

      4.   Once added to the diagram, enter a meaningful ‘Name’ for your new ‘Parameter’ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

      add_parameter_constraint_para_step4

      5.   Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

      add_parameter_constraint_para_step5

      * Note: The above process describes using the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar, which automatically generates a new entity to represent each new diagram construct. If you would like to reuse existing entities from your database to represent a new construct, use the ‘Existing’ tab instead.

      Adding a Connector

      A ‘Connector’ construct can be added to a ‘Parametric Diagram’ via drag-and-drop.

      Adding a Connector Parameters and Values

      The example used below connects two ‘Block’ constructs with a ‘Connector’ construct.

      1. Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ select the ‘Parameter’ you would like connected to a ‘Value.’

        add_connector_para_step1

      2. Click the green circle and continue to hold down the left mouse button.

        add_connector_para_step2

      3. Drag the green circle over to another ‘Value’ of your choice.

        add_connector_para_step3

      4. When the other ‘Block’ box highlights green, release the left mouse button to drop the new ‘Connector’ and add it to the diagram.

        add_connector_para_step4

        Notice the ‘Connector’ stays selected once it has been dropped. Since it is selected, the toolbar changes to include buttons for functions that can be used on the construct. The sidebar also changes to include additional ‘Metadata,’ ‘Attributes,’ and ‘Relationships’ tabs.
      5. Once added to the diagram, enter a meaningful ‘Name’ for your new ‘Connector’ via the ‘Attributes’ tab of the left sidebar (focused automatically for convenience).

        add_connector_para_step5-2

      6. Click the ‘Save’ button located on the toolbar to persist your changes to your project’s database.

        add_connector_para_step6

      * Note: The above process describes using the ‘New’ tab of the left sidebar, which automatically generates a new entity to represent each new diagram construct. If you would like to reuse existing entities from your database to represent a new construct, use the ‘Existing’ tab instead.

      Removing a Construct

      A construct can be easily removed from a ‘Parametric Diagram‘.

      1. Within a ‘Parametric Diagram,’ select the construct you wish to remove. This will make the toolbar appear with applicable functions which can be used on the selected construct.

        remove_para_step1

      2. Click the  ‘Remove’ button to remove the construct from the diagram (as the default action).

        remove_para_step2

         

        * Note: The  ‘Remove’ button also includes a drop-down menu where you can select ‘Delete from Database’ or the default option of ‘Remove from Diagram.’

      Tutorial Video

       

      To continue learning about SysML Diagrams, Click Here.

      (Next Article: Parametric Diagram Modifications & Settings)