Simulink.VariantExpression

R2026b

Specify conditions that control variant selection

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Description

In a model that contains variant blocks, you must associate each variant choice with a variant control. During simulation, Simulink® evaluates the variant controls of all variant choices and activates the choice that corresponds to the variant control that evaluates to true.

You can specify the variant control in the form of a Boolean condition expression, such as A == 1 or A==1 && B == 2. In these expressions, the variant control variables A and B can be MATLAB® variables, Simulink.Parameter objects, or Simulink.VariantControl objects. Create a Simulink.VariantExpression object to represent a Boolean variant condition expression. You can define the object in the base workspace or in a data dictionary and use it as part of variant control expression. These Simulink.VariantExpression objects improve the readability of variant condition expressions. Simulink.VariantExpression objects enable you to reuse complex variant condition expressions across multiple variant blocks and variant parameters, improving the readability of variant conditions. For more information, see Switch Between Choices Using Condition Expressions in Variant Blocks and Use Simulink.VariantExpression Objects for Variant Condition Reuse of Variant Blocks.

Note

Use Simulink.VariantExpression objects in AUTOSAR code generation workflows to configure variants for AUTOSAR elements such as ports and runnables, and to support AUTOSAR variant import and export workflows. For more information, see Configure Variants for AUTOSAR Elements (AUTOSAR Blockset). For workflows other than AUTOSAR, using direct Boolean expressions with variant controls is preferable.

For example, you can use Simulink.VariantExpression objects as variant controls in a Variant Source block.

v_EngType_Big = Simulink.VariantExpression("V == 1");
v_EngType_Small = Simulink.VariantExpression("V == 2");

Block Parameters dialog box for a Variant Source block. The variant control expressions for Port 1 and Port 2 are set to v_EngType_Big and v_EngType_Small, respectively.

Note

  • Defining variant controls using Simulink.VariantExpression objects in a mask workspace or the model workspace is not supported. For more information on storage locations for variant control variables, see Types of Variant Control Variables (Operands) in Variant Blocks.

  • Using Simulink.VariantExpression objects within structures is not supported.

Creation

Syntax

variantControl = Simulink.VariantExpression(conditionExpression)

Description

variantControl = Simulink.VariantExpression(conditionExpression) creates a variant control and sets the Condition property to conditionExpression.

example

Properties

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Variant condition expression, specified as a character vector or string scalar. The expression must evaluate to a Boolean value and can contain one or more of these operands and operators:

Operands

  • Scalar literal values that represent integer or enumerated values

  • Variable names that resolve to one of these types:

    • MATLAB variables

    • Simulink.VariantControl objects

    • Simulink.Parameter objects with integer, enumerated data type, or scalar literal values

    • Simulink.VariantExpression objects

Operators

  • Parentheses for grouping

  • Arithmetic, relational, logical, and bitwise operators

For information on the supported types of operators and operands in a variant condition expression, see Types of Variant Control Variables (Operands) in Variant Blocks and Types of Operators in Variant Blocks for Different Activation Times.

Example: '(Fuel == 2 || Emission == 1) && Ratio == 2'

Data Types: char | string

Examples

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Use MATLAB variables for variant controls when you want to simulate the model but are not considering code generation.

Create MATLAB variables with scalar literal values.

Fuel = 3;
Emission = 2;
Ratio = 3;

Define conditional expressions using the variables and create variant controls.

Variant1 = Simulink.VariantExpression('Fuel==3 && Emission==2');
Variant2 = Simulink.VariantExpression('(Fuel==2 || Emission==1) && Ratio==2');
Variant3 = Simulink.VariantExpression('Fuel==3 || Ratio==4');

To generate preprocessor conditionals for code generation, use Simulink.Parameter objects.

Create variant Simulink.Parameter objects with scalar literal values.

Fuel = Simulink.Parameter(3);
Emission = Simulink.Parameter(2);
Ratio = Simulink.Parameter(3);

Specify the custom storage class for these objects as ImportedDefine so that the values are specified by an external header file. Other valid values for the custom storage class are Define and CompilerFlag.

Note

If you generate code with variant activation time set to startup, specify the supported custom storage class for the objects. For more information on built-in and custom storage classes supported with startup activation time see Storage Classes for Different Variant Activation Times.

Fuel.CoderInfo.StorageClass = 'Custom';
Fuel.CoderInfo.CustomStorageClass = 'ImportedDefine';

Emission.CoderInfo.StorageClass = 'Custom';
Emission.CoderInfo.CustomStorageClass = 'ImportedDefine';

Ratio.CoderInfo.StorageClass = 'Custom';
Ratio.CoderInfo.CustomStorageClass = 'ImportedDefine';

Define conditional expressions using the variables and create variant controls.

Variant1 = Simulink.VariantExpression('Fuel==3 && Emission==2');
Variant2 = Simulink.VariantExpression('(Fuel==2 || Emission==1) && Ratio==2');
Variant3 = Simulink.VariantExpression('Fuel==3 || Ratio==4');

You can associate a variant control variable of type Simulink.VariantControl with a variant activation time. For an example, see Use Simulink.VariantControl Variables for Coherent Switching of Choices in Variant Blocks.

Create Simulink.VariantControl objects with scalar literal values.

Fuel = Simulink.VariantControl(Value=3,ActivationTime="update diagram");
Emission = Simulink.VariantControl(Value=2,ActivationTime="update diagram");
Ratio = Simulink.VariantControl(Value=3,ActivationTime="update diagram");

Define conditional expressions using the variables and create variant controls.

Variant1 = Simulink.VariantExpression('Fuel==3 && Emission==2');
Variant2 = Simulink.VariantExpression('(Fuel==2 || Emission==1) && Ratio==2');
Variant3 = Simulink.VariantExpression('Fuel==3 || Ratio==4');
Open Live Script

After identifying the variant values that your model requires, you can construct complex variant conditions to control the activation of your variant blocks by defining variant conditions as Simulink.VariantExpression objects. Simulink.VariantExpression objects enable you to reuse common variant conditions across models and help you encapsulate complex variant condition expressions.

You can specify the whole of a variant condition expression or only the variant control variable inside the Condition property of the Simulink.VariantExpression object.

Note:

  • You can define a variant control variable of type Simulink.VariantExpression only in the base workspace or in a data dictionary. Defining variant controls using Simulink.VariantExpression objects in a mask workspace or the model workspace is not supported. For more information on storage locations for variant control variables, see Types of Variant Control Variables (Operands) in Variant Blocks.

  • Using Simulink.VariantExpression within structures is not supported.

Open the slexVariantSubsystems model.

open_system("slexVariantSubsystems");

In the MATLAB® Command Window, define variant control expressions in Simulink.VariantExpression objects.

V_LinearController = Simulink.VariantExpression("V==1");
V_NonLinearController = Simulink.VariantExpression("V==2");

Specify the Simulink.VariantExpression objects as the variant control variables in the block parameters dialog box of the Controller block. 

set_param("slexVariantSubsystems/Controller/Linear Controller", ...
   "VariantControl", "V_LinearController");
set_param("slexVariantSubsystems/Controller/Nonlinear Controller", ...
   "VariantControl", "V_NonLinearController");

Open the Block Parameters dialog box for the Controller block in the model. The Condition column of the Variant Choices table automatically shows the Boolean conditions that the Simulink.VariantExpression objects represent.

Set the value of variant control variable V as 1 and simulate the model. 

V = 1;
sim("slexVariantSubsystems");

During simulation, the Linear Controller block becomes active. Double-click the Controller block to see the active choice. Using this approach, you can develop complex variant condition expressions that are reusable.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a

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See Also

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