gPROMS ModelBuilder version 2.3.1

3.2 Connection Types editor
3.2.1 Introduction
21
Connection Types editor
Component models are connected on a composite model’s topology via their Ports (refer to Section 4.3). Each Port
is declared as an instance of a Connection Type.
Connection Types include
Variables: these can be referred to in component models;
Parameters and Distribution domains: these can be used to provide the dimensions of any Parameters and
Variables defined for the Connection Type;
A graphical representation;
Port categories: these can be used to disallow certain connections.
It should be noted that a Model’s Port declaration, in effect, declares the Variables, Parameters and Distribution
domains associated to the Connection Type used for the port declaration.
In addition to the Properties tab (see Section 2.2.1), three tabs are used to define a Connection Type
“Parameters & Variables”
“Graphical representation”
“Port categories”
Each of these tabs is now considered.
3.2.2 “Parameters & variables” editor tab
The Parameters, Distribution domains and Variables are defined on the “Parameters & Variables” editor tab (see
Figure 3.2).
For each Parameter the user should specify:
o a type (Real, Integer, or Foreign Object 10
)
o and (optionally) a default value,
For each Distribution domain the user should specify
o lower and upper bounds
For each Variable the user should specify
o a Variable Type (see Section 3.1)
o Variable dimensions (or if a scalar variable). Both the size and number of dimensions are
declared in the Dimensions field: any size and number of dimensions are permitted.
The lower and upper bounds for Distribution domains and the size of array Variables can be given either directly as
a literal constant (e.g. 2) or using any of the Parameters also defined for the Connection Type 11 .
10 If a parameter of type Foreign Object is specified then a Foreign Object Class can also be specified.
11 Only Parameters of type integer can be use to size Array Variables