Configuring the Input and Output Port blocks

To open the block property page (the page on which the block configuration is specified), either double click on the block or right-click on the block and select Block Properties.

Pass-through mode: all of the input fields pass unchanged through the Port block, there are no configuration options for the block when it is in pass-through mode.
Preconfigured (locked) mode is enabled by toggling it on in the Mode window. When the Preconfigured mode is toggled on, all the input fields are locked as output fields, and the desired configuration must be implemented.

To remove all the field mappings, click on the >> button, this moves all the Available fields in the Output window to the Available Fields window.

Click on the << button (Auto create connections button) to map the Available Fields back onto those Locked fields with similar names.

Note: In pre-configured mode each output field must be connected to an input field. The name of the output field may be different from the name of the input field to which it is connected but the types must be the same.

To delete all the fields in the Output window click on the Delete all fields button .
To add the Flow tag as a locked field, type Flow in the Name block (in the Output Field Editor window), select the appropriate data type from the Type drop-down box (Double in this case) and then click on the Add locked fields button .

The Flow input field is mapped onto the locked field by clicking on the locked field name and then double-clicking on Flow in the Available Fields window or by clicking on the < button. To undo a mapping double-click on the tag name in the Output window or select the tag name in the Output window and click on >.

If only the Current, Flow and InletPress tags should enter the Superblock, we can add these fields as explained in step 5 above. If we wish now to exclude the InletPress tag, select the tag name in the Output window and press Delete or click on the button.

Now we would like to rename the Flow tag to FlowRate.
- Do this by clicking on the tag name, pressing F2, typing the new name and then clicking on Apply.
- Alternatively, delete the Flow tag as explained in step 4 above. Then, add FlowRate as a locked field as explained in step 5 and 6 above.
  
  Warning: When the names, types and number of fields in an input port are changed, all blocks in the Superblock may lose their configuration settings.

Additional information

Locked Port blocks are typically used as input ports to pre-configured Superblocks. In locked mode the Port block will never change its output fields. This prevents changes in fields to propagate past the locked Port block. When changes do occur prior to a locked Port block the block may not be runnable and may need re-configuration.
A Port block in pass-through mode is usually used as an output port of a super block. This will allow new fields that are created in the Superblock to be automatically available on the output.
The preconfigured (locked) output field list can be imported or exported to a text (.csv file) by using either the buttons.

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