A super block is an encapsulation of multiple blocks into a single block.
When modeling large or complex systems that include multiple subsystems, super blocks are a
viable option to avoid constructing diagrams with too many blocks on the same level, as such
diagrams are difficult to read and debug. Super blocks also maximize the reusability of blocks as
whole models, particular subsystems of models, and groups of blocks can be saved as super blocks,
added to libraries and reused in new models.
Super blocks appear and act like regular blocks. They can be easily moved, copied, resized and
edited just as regular blocks. Super blocks can contain an unlimited number of blocks, including
other super blocks.
Creating Super Blocks
Group multiple blocks in a diagram to create a super block.
Select a group of blocks in your model that you want to consolodate into a
super block.
The following figure shows an example diagram of a PID controller that
is a good candidate to be a super block.
Once added to a block library as a super block, the controller can be
easily reused in other models.
On the ribbon, select the Super Block tool: , or right-click and from the context menu, select Super
Block.
The selection of blocks is consolodated into a single super block:
The new super block acts like a basic block. You can name it, define
parameters for it, and save it for reuse in new models.
Navigating in Super Blocks
Navigate inside of a super block from the Project Browser or
modeling window.
From the Project Browser, double-click a super
block.
The current model display clears, and the main diagram of the super
block appears.
Note: Navigation from the Project Browser
is the same for masked and unmasked super blocks.
From the modeling window, select a super block and
double-click it, or press Ctrl + double-click the super
block.
The model display clears, and the main diagram of the super block
appears.
To clear the display of the super-block, in the blank space around the super
block, double-click.
The super block closes and the model display returns.
Expanding and Extracting Super Block Contents
Expand a super block and extract the contents into your model.
The Expand Super Block option expands a super block, copies the content into the
current model, and eliminates the super block. The copied content remains selected so
that you can move it freely to a desired location in the model. Any context associated
with the primary super block is removed. This option does not apply to masked super
blocks.
To activate Expand Super Block, select a super block, then press
Ctrl+Alt+X. Alternatively,
on the super block, right-click, and from the context menu, select
Expand Super Block.
If the super block includes a context, a warning is issued that the
context will be lost.
, or right-click and from the context menu, select Super
Block.
The selection of blocks is consolodated into a single super block: