Creating a new model in Simulink - Try It Yourself

Creating a new model

📖 Scenario: You are starting a new project to simulate a simple system using Simulink. You want to create a new model file where you will build your simulation blocks.

🎯 Goal: Create a new Simulink model file named simple_model and save it to your current working folder.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a new Simulink model using the new_system function with the name simple_model.

Open the new model using the open_system function.

Save the model to the current folder using the save_system function.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Creating new Simulink models is the first step in simulating and analyzing engineering systems like control systems, signal processing, or mechanical systems.

💼 Career

Knowing how to create and manage Simulink models is essential for engineers and data scientists working in simulation, model-based design, and system analysis.

1

Create a new Simulink model

Write code to create a new Simulink model named simple_model using the new_system function.

Simulink

# Your code here to create a new model named simple_model

Hint

Use new_system('simple_model') to create the model.

2

Open the new model

Write code to open the Simulink model named simple_model using the open_system function.

Simulink

new_system('simple_model')
# Your code here to open the model simple_model

Hint

Use open_system('simple_model') to open the model window.

3

Save the Simulink model

Write code to save the Simulink model named simple_model using the save_system function.

Simulink

new_system('simple_model')
open_system('simple_model')
# Your code here to save the model simple_model

Hint

Use save_system('simple_model') to save the model file.

4

Display confirmation message

Write code to print the message 'Model simple_model created and saved successfully.' to confirm the process is complete.

Simulink

new_system('simple_model')
open_system('simple_model')
save_system('simple_model')
# Your code here to print confirmation message

Hint

Use print('Model simple_model created and saved successfully.') to show the message.

Practice

1. What is the first step to create a new model in Simulink?

easy

A. Use new_system to create a new model.

B. Use simulink.open_system to open an existing model.

C. Add blocks directly without creating a model.

D. Save the model before creating it.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand model creation functions

   The function new_system is used to create a new empty model in Simulink.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from opening models

   open_system opens existing models but does not create new ones.

3. Final Answer:

   Use new_system to create a new model. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   New model creation = new_system [OK]

Hint: Remember: new_system creates, open_system opens [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing new_system with open_system
• Trying to add blocks before creating a model
• Assuming saving creates a model

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create and open a new Simulink model named 'myModel'?

easy

A. simulink.create_system('myModel'); simulink.show_system('myModel');

B. simulink.open_system('myModel'); simulink.new_system('myModel');

C. new_system('myModel'); open_system('myModel');

D. simulink.new_system('myModel'); simulink.open_system('myModel');

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify correct function names

   The correct functions are new_system to create and open_system to open the model.

2. Step 2: Check function order and syntax

   Create the model first, then open it. new_system('myModel'); open_system('myModel'); follows this order and uses correct function names and syntax.

3. Final Answer:

   new_system('myModel'); open_system('myModel'); -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Create then open = new_system('myModel'); open_system('myModel'); [OK]

Hint: Create first, then open with correct function names [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using open_system before new_system
• Using incorrect function names like create_system
• Using incorrect 'simulink.' prefix

3. What will be the output of the following code snippet?

modelName = 'testModel';
new_system(modelName);
open_system(modelName);
blocks = find_system(modelName, 'Type', 'Block');
numBlocks = length(blocks);

What is the value of numBlocks right after running this code?

medium

A. 0

B. 1

C. An error occurs because the model is empty

D. Undefined variable error

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand model creation and block count

   After creating and opening a new model, it contains no blocks by default.

2. Step 2: Use find_system to count blocks

   find_system with 'Type'='Block' returns all blocks. Since none are added, the list is empty, so length is 0.

3. Final Answer:

   0 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   New model has zero blocks [OK]

Hint: New model starts empty, so block count is zero [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming default blocks exist
• Expecting an error for empty model
• Confusing blocks with system components

4. Consider this code snippet:

open_system('newModel');
new_system('newModel');

What is the main issue with this code when creating a new model?

medium

A. There is no issue; this code works fine.

B. The model is created twice, wasting memory.

C. The model name is invalid for Simulink.

D. The model is opened before it is created, causing an error.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze function order

   The code tries to open a model named 'newModel' before creating it, which causes an error because the model does not exist yet.

2. Step 2: Understand correct sequence

   The correct sequence is to create the model first with new_system, then open it.

3. Final Answer:

   The model is opened before it is created, causing an error. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Open before create causes error [OK]

Hint: Always create before opening a model [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Opening a model before creation
• Assuming open_system creates the model
• Ignoring error messages

5. You want to programmatically create a new Simulink model named 'controlSystem', add a Gain block, and open the model for editing. Which sequence of commands correctly achieves this?

hard

A. simulink.open_system('controlSystem'); add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain', 'controlSystem/Gain1'); simulink.new_system('controlSystem');

B. new_system('controlSystem'); add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain', 'controlSystem/Gain1'); open_system('controlSystem');

C. add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain', 'controlSystem/Gain1'); simulink.new_system('controlSystem'); simulink.open_system('controlSystem');

D. simulink.new_system('controlSystem'); simulink.open_system('controlSystem'); add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain', 'controlSystem/Gain1');

Solution

1. Step 1: Create the new model first

   Use new_system('controlSystem') to create the model before adding blocks.

2. Step 2: Add the Gain block to the model

   Use add_block with the correct source and destination path inside the new model.

3. Step 3: Open the model for editing

   Finally, open the model window with open_system('controlSystem') to see and edit it visually.

4. Final Answer:

   new_system('controlSystem'); add_block('simulink/Commonly Used Blocks/Gain', 'controlSystem/Gain1'); open_system('controlSystem'); -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Create, add block, then open model [OK]

Hint: Create model, add blocks, then open model [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding blocks before creating the model
• Opening model before adding blocks
• Incorrect block path in add_block