Graphical Icon Editor Overview

Create and edit mask icon of a block in a graphical environment. The features in the Graphical Icon Editor help you to easily create icons. You can also create and edit the block mask icons using a set of drawing commands. For more information, see Mask Display and Initialization Commands.

You can launch the Graphical Icon Editor from the Mask Editor. In the Mask Editor, select the Icon tab. In the toolstrip, in the Authoring section, select Graphical. Using the Graphical Icon Editor, you can:

Preview the icon to check how it appears when the icon is horizontally stretched, flipped, or scaled.
Use Grid and Snap to grid to achieve precisely positioned icon elements.
Name the elements and hide, lock, arrange, and regroup them in the icon.
Use the Parts feature to render multiple variations of the same block. See Render Multiple Variations of Same Block Icon Using Parts for more information.
Hide or unhide specific elements in the icon based on conditions on the block parameters or mask parameters. See Hide or Unhide Elements in the Icon Based on Block Parameters or Mask Parameters for more information.
Position each element on the icon relative to the canvas. See Position Elements Relative to Other Elements Using Layout Constraints for more information.

Edit Properties of Block Mask Icon and Its Elements

The graphical mode of authoring has a set of tabbed panes that help you to author block mask icons. The options available in these tabbed panes are context sensitive.

Icon — Use the options in the Icon tab to control the properties of the icon such as the canvas height and width.
Element — All the properties specific to an element of the icon are available in the Element tab, for example, alignment options and transformation options.

Icon Toolstrip

Section	Property	Functionality
Import	Import Icon Part	Import a part into the icon.
Import	Import Icon	Import a new icon.
Save	Save Mask	Save the mask.
Save	Save image file with model	Select to save the mask icon with the model.
Authoring Mode	Toggle editor	Switch between the command and graphical editors.
Canvas	Height	Set the height of the canvas.
Canvas	Width	Set the width of the canvas.
Drawing Aids	Grid and Snap to grid	Enable these options to create precisely positioned elements. These options help you to visualize the number of pixels each element occupies in the icon. Snap to grid allows enables you to snap the element to the nearest grid line.
	Grid Size	Control the spacing between the grid lines.
	Grid Color	Select a color for the grid.
	Smart Guides and Rulers	Use smart guides and rulers to align or position an element with respect to other elements in the icon or the canvas.
	Port Grid	Display port grids to align elements with respect to the ports.
Parts	Add	Add a new part to the icon.
	Duplicate	Duplicate an existing part.
	Delete	Delete an existing part.
Configuration	Ports	Define the number of ports on the left, right, top, and bottom of the icon.
Dynamization	Add Dynamism	Add dynamic capabilities to the icon such as setting visibility conditions, parametrize text, and, repeating icon elements.
Preview	Preview in Model	Visualize the icon in its original scale and after transformations such as scaling, horizontal and vertical stretching, and clockwise and counterclockwise rotation. You can also preview the icon with parameter variations and width height variations.

Element Toolstrip

Section	Property	Functionality
Shape	Stroke, Stroke Width, Bold, Italics, Underline, and Fill	Define the visual appearance of elements by specifying these properties.
Arrange	Group and Ungroup	Group and ungroup elements in the icon.
	Flip Horizontal	Flip the selected element horizontally.
	Flip Vertical	Flip the selected element vertically.
Order	Send Backward	Send the element one level backwards.
	Send to Back	Send the element to the back.
	Bring Forward	Bring the element one level forward.
	Bring to Front	Bring the element to the front.
Align	Align Left	Align the selected elements to the left.
	Align Horizontal Center	Align the selected elements to the horizontal center.
	Align Right	Align the selected elements to the right.
	Align Bottom	Align the selected elements to the bottom.
	Align Top	Align the selected elements to the top.
	Align Vertical Center	Align the selected elements to the vertical center.
Port Binding	Bind Port or Unbind Port	Bind or unbind port labels and icon elements to a port. Binding the elements to the port enables to inherit the style from the port. For example, the color codes associated with the port of a block gets inherited by the element. To bind the port and label or element, select the port and the label or element. Specify the port using Select Port. To find the number of elements bound to a port, click the port, which highlights all the elements bound to the port. You can bind multiple elements to a port, but you cannot bind a single element to multiple ports. Select Unbind Port to unbind a label or element to a port.

Icon Properties Pane

Design tab
Section	Property	Functionality
Transform	H and W	Set the height and width of the canvas. Remove the lock to change the height and width of the canvas without preserving the aspect ratio between height and width.
Icon Dynamization	Visibility	Set visibility condition for the icon. Visibility conditions support JavaScript expressions only.
Render tab
Section	Property	Functionality
General	Frame	Set the frame shape to any of the available shapes such as `Rectangle`, `Circle`, `Ellipse`, `Triangle`, `Trapezium`, or `Pentagon`.
General	Frame	`None` — The default shape is retained and does not show a frame for the block.
Transform	Rotate	Set this option to rotate the icon along with the block.
	Resize	`Off` — Icon retains its original size when the block resizes.
		`On` — Icon resizes to fit to the block.
		`Shrink Only` — Icon resizes to fit to the block while shrinking but not otherwise.
Stroke Behavior	Normalize Width	`On` — Select this option to set the stroke width of all the elements to 1 pixel.
	Scale With Ports	`On` — Select this option to scale the stroke width of the element by the style of the line that is connected to the port that is associated with this element.
	Scale on Zoom	`On` — Select this option to increase the stroke width when the canvas is zoomed in and decrease the stroke width when the canvas is zoomed out.
	Scale on Resize	`On` — Scale stroke linearly on resizing icon.
		`Off` — Maintain constant stroke width on resizing icon.
		`Shrink Only` — Scale stroke linearly when the icon shrinks and do not scale when icon is enlarged.
Appearance	Foreground	`Allow` — Change foreground color of the icon. The foreground color can be changed by right-clicking the context menu on the Simulink^® canvas.
		`Disallow` — Retain the original color of the canvas even when it is changed by right-clicking the context menu on the Simulink canvas.
		`Inherit from Ports` — Use the color of the port associated with this element as the foreground color.
	Background	`Allow` — Change background color of the icon. The background color can be changed by right-clicking the context menu on the Simulink canvas.
		`Disallow` — Retain the original color of the canvas even when it is changed by right-clicking the context menu on the Simulink canvas.
		`Transparent` — Use a transparent background for the block. This option is selected by default for Simscape™ blocks.

Element Properties Pane

Design tab
Section	Property	Functionality
Transform	X, Y	Set the X and Y coordinates of the element.
	W, H	Set the width and height of the element. Remove the lock to change the width and height of the element without preserving the aspect ratio.
	Angle	Specify an angle between -360 to 360 to rotate the element to the specified angle.
	Flip horizontally	Flip the element horizontally.
	Flip vertically	Flip the element vertically.
	Corner radius	Define the radius of an element's corners.
Format	Fill	Select a color to fill the element and enter a value between 0 to 1 to adjust the transparency of the color.
	Stroke	Select a stroke color and enter a value between 0 to 1 to adjust transparency of the stroke color.
	Stroke style	Enter the stroke width and select the stroke style.
	Cap type	Select the style for the end of the line or path.
	Join type	Select the style for the joints for the path element.
	Start type	Select the start arrow head type. Toggle to fill the arrow head and then select the size of the arrow head.
	End type	Select the end arrow head type. Toggle to fill the arrow head and the select the size of the arrow head.
Text	Font Size	Select the size of the text from the available options.
	Style	Bold, italicize, underline, or strike through the text on the icon.
	Letter case	Choose the font casing. You can also format the text as superscript or subscript.
	Fill	Select the color for the text. You can also choose the transparency of the text.
	Stroke	Select the color for the border of the text. You can also choose the transparency for the border of the text.
Render tab
Transform	Rotate	`With Parent` — Rotate the element with its parent.
		`Readable` — Maintain readable text element. The text appears from left to right or bottom to top without mirrored.
		`Fixed` — Maintain orientation of the element even if the block is rotated.
		`With Ports` — Rotate the element along with the port.
	Resize	`On` — Scale linearly along with parent when the icon is resized.
		`Off` — Maintain the size of the element when the icon is resized.
		`Shrink Only` — Shrink the element linearly when its parent shrinks but maintains the size when its parent is enlarged.
		`Adaptive` — Scale port labels appropriately along with the block.
	Resize Limit	Set the maximum limit to which the element is resizable.
	Horizontal Scaling	`On` — Scale the element horizontally along with the block.
		`Off` — Maintain the width of the element.
		`Shrink Only` — Shrink horizontally when its parent shrinks but maintain the size when its parent is enlarged.
	Vertical Scaling	`On` — Scale the element vertically along with the block.
		`Off` — Maintain the height of the element.
		`Shrink Only` — Shrink vertically when its parent shrinks but maintain the size when its parent is enlarged.
	Scale On Zoom	`On` — Scale the element linearly when the canvas is zoomed.
		`Off` — Maintain the size of the element when the canvas is zoomed.
		`Shrink Only` — Shrink the element when the canvas is zoomed out and maintain its size when the canvas is zoomed in.
Stroke Behavior	Normalize Width	`Inherit` — Inherit the style from the icon. If the element is part of a group then it inherits the style from its parent element.
	Normalize Width	`On` — Set the stroke width of all the elements to 1 pixel.
	Scale With Ports	`Inherit` — Inherit the style from the icon. If the element is part of a group then it inherits the style from its parent element.
	Scale With Ports	`On` — Scale the stroke width of the element by the style of the line that is connected to the port that is associated with this element.
	Scale On Zoom	`Inherit` — Inherit the style from the icon. If the element is part of a group then it inherits the style from its parent element.
	Scale On Zoom	`On` — Scale the stroke width of the elements when the canvas is zoomed out. Maintain a constant stroke width when the canvas is zoomed in.
	Scale On Resize	`Inherit` — Inherit the style from the icon. If the element is part of a group then it inherits the style from its parent element.
		`On` — Scale element's stroke linearly on resizing icon.
		`Off` — Maintain constant stroke width of the elements on resizing icon.
		`Shrink Only` — Scale stroke of the elements linearly when the icon shrinks and do not scale when icon is enlarged.
Element Dynamization
Visibility		Set visibility condition for the element. Visibility conditions support JavaScript^® expressions only.
Repeat	Port Position	Repeat elements on each port in the icon. `Left Ports`— Repeat element on all left ports of the icon. `Right Ports`— Repeat element on all right ports of the icon. `Top Ports`— Repeat element on all top ports of the icon. `Bottom Ports`— Repeat element on all bottom ports of the icon.
Repeat	Set Position	Set the alignment of the element. Align the element to the `Left of the block`, `Right of the block`, `Top of the block`, `Bottom of the block`, or `Center of the block`. You can also set the Offset for the elements from the port.
Text Dynamization
Visibility		Set visibility condition for the text element. Visibility conditions support JavaScript expressions only.
Repeat	Port Position	Repeat elements on each port in the icon. `Left Ports`— Repeat element on all left ports of the icon. `Right Ports`— Repeat element on all right ports of the icon.
Repeat	Set Position	Set the alignment of the element. Align the element to the `Left of the block`, `Right of the block` or `Center of the block`. You can also set the Offset for the elements from the port.
Text	Dynamic Text	Parameter/Value— Enter mask parameter. It returns the text or value during runtime. To see the evaluated value of a block parameter on the block icon, preview the icon on the Simulink canvas. Width Contraction— Set the minimum number of characters that should be available in the text to add ellipses at the end of the text. The default value is 3 characters. Height Contraction— Set the minimum number of rows that should be available in a multiline text to add ellipses at the end of the line. The default value is 1 row.
Text	Editing Behavior	Edit Handler— Select `Parameter`, if you want to edit the value of the block parameter in the block icon itself and as a result the block parameter value in the mask is also updated. Select `MATLAB Handler` if you want to write MATLAB^® code to edit the block parameter value.
Appearance	Inherit Background Color	Select this option to set the fill color of a closed shape to the background color selected from the block context menu. The block background remains transparent. Clear this option to set the fill color of a closed shape to the color selected from the Fill palette in the Format section under the Design tab of the Element Properties pane. If you select a fill color first, the Inherit Background Color check box is cleared by default. To enable this option, set the Background of the block to Transparent under the Render tab of the Icon Properties pane and select a closed shape in the Icon Editor canvas.

Drawing Tools

Tool	Functionality
Path	Create the desired shape using the Path tool.
Rect	Draw a rectangle or square using the Rect tool.
Ellipse	Draw an ellipse or circle using the Ellipse tool.
Line	Draw lines using Line tool.
Curvature	Simplify path creation. To draw curves, click the canvas in two separate locations to create anchor points. Drag the center point to draw the curve. Drag the edge points of the curve to enlarge it. You can also rotate the curve clockwise or anticlockwise to form loops.
Equation Tool	Write equations using LaTeX markup. This tool is similar to the equation tool present in MATLAB and Simulink.
Edit Shape	Use the Edit Shape tool to edit all supported shapes, such as rectangles, ellipses, lines, and paths. To edit a shape, select the Edit Shape tool in fixed palette above the canvas and click an element. All edit points that form the shape appear.
Scissor	Split a path or element on the canvas at an anchor point or along a segment. Click a point on the path you want to split. To modify the object, select the anchor points that are created due to splitting.
Connector	Connect two or more open paths. This connection creates a single path element. Click the tool and drag to connect open paths.

Note

Along with using these tools to draw shapes, you can use predefined shapes from Electrical, Translational, and Rotational libraries. You can also use basic shapes like Cylinder, Triangle, Axis, and Wave.

Element Browser

The element browser provides you the following functionalities:

Identify each element using a unique name.
Hide or unhide an element so that it does not get in the way while modifying other elements.
Lock or unlock an element so that the position of the element is locked in the icon.
Arrange elements within the group.
Delete elements.
Maintain a stack order for the elements.

Other Menu Options

Menu	Property	Functionality
Properties	Transform	Change the position, rotation, and corner radius of an element in the icon.
Path Points	X and Y	Select an edit point in a shape, then modify the X and Y coordinates of the edit point.
	Point Type	Change between smooth point and corner point.
	Symmetric Handles	Symmetrically move the handles of the edit point.

Graphical Icon Editor Overview

Edit Properties of Block Mask Icon and Its Elements

Related Topics