Operating on Object Tree Items

Right-Click

All items on the Objects tree provide a right-click menu of available commands.

The definitions of all actions that appear on the right-click menus of the object tree are provided in Right Click Actions below.

Double-Click

Tip

A container node is an item on the tree that expands/collapses (an item that appears with / ⌵ controls).

A terminal node is any node that is not a container node.

Many terminal nodes of the tree have a default action associated with them. This action is performed when the item is double-clicked. This default operation can be identified by viewing the right-click menu; the default action will appear in bold on the menu.

An item whose right-click menu shows no bold option does not have a default action; nothing occurs if that item is double-clicked.

The default action for a double-clicked container node is to collapse/expand the node.

Drag-and-Drop

../../../../../../../_images/simple-drop.gif

Figure 1: Simple drag and drop. Click image to replay.

../../../../../../../_images/split-and-drop.gif

Figure 2: A drag and drop with split. As the mouse approaches the edge of the target window, the pertinent portion of the window is highlighted to indicate the position of the proffered split. Click image to replay.

Tip

At any position in the program, the mouse cursor cues drop outcomes.

dropok

item may be dropped at current mouse position

dropno

item cannot be dropped at current mouse position

A viable target location for drop will be highlighted this color hl (more or less; screen colors will vary). No highlight appears when the current mouse position is not a viable drop target.

No operation is performed when an item is dropped on a “prohibited” location.

Many items on the tree support drag-and-drop. As illustrated in the brief videos above, items dragged to the center of a workspace window will replace the current content. Items dragged to the edge of a workspace window will open in a new split, at the location indicated by the highlight.

The result of the drag-and-drop is contingent on the item, and where it is dragged.

In the “Project” branch, data files and plots open when dragged to a workspace window. Saved states dragged to the console will restore them.

Items dragged from the “Model State” branch to a workspace window will plot them; if dragged to the console, a list command will be issued.

Items placed on the “Watch” branch may be dragged and will perform the same as if they had been dragged from their normal location on the “Model State” branch.

Table 2: Drag-and-Drop Actions for Each Item on the Object Tree

Tree Item

Drop Target

Result

Data Files container

workspace

create new data file in the drop target

Data file (*.dat)

workspace

open dragged data file in the drop target

Data file (*.dat)

console

program call the dragged data file

Plots container

workspace

create new plot in the drop target

Plot

workspace

open plot in the drop target

Saved States container

this object cannot be drag-and-dropped

Saved state (*.sav)

console

restore dragged save state

Results container

this object cannot be drag-and-dropped

Result file (*.rslt)

console

restore dragged result file

Model State item[1]

workspace

plot item in the target[2]

Model State item

console

list info (or similar)

Right Click Actions

Add…

Add an existing item of the clicked type to the project (Data Files, Saved States, Results).

Close

Close the items clicked (Projects).

Collapse All/Open All

Open or collapse the container item (all container items: Project, Data Files, Saved States, Results).

Compress/Decompress

Compress or decompress the clicked item (saved states).

Delete

Delete the clicked item, removing it from the project and, as needed, deleting the file object (data files, plots, saved states, results).

Tip

The Information… command is new in version 9.0. Users are encouraged to try it to familiarize themselves with the functionality and its potential uses.

Information…

Display an information dialog for the clicked item (saved states). The information shown in the dialog a tree containing three branches: general file metadata, and the entire Model State and Program branches of the Objects at the time the file was saved.

New…

Open a new item of the clicked type (Project, Data Files, Plots).

Open…

Open an existing item of the clicked type (Project, Data Files, Plots).

Open in Workspace

Open the clicked item in the workspace (data files, plots).

Remove from Project

Removed the clicked item from the project without deleting the file object (data files, saved states, results).

Rename

Rename the clicked item (plots).

Recent >

Open a recent project from the list on the supplied submenu (Projects).

Save

Save the item clicked (Projects).

Save As…

Save the item clicked as a new file (Projects).

Show Containing Folder

Open the operating system file viewer at the folder of the right-clicked object (Project, data files, saved states, results).

Sort Alphabetically/Sort in Order Added

Sort the tree listing for the clicked container as indicated (Data Files, Plots, Saved States, Results).

Endnote