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Dialog: Tool: Briefcase

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Briefcase FB

See: Modelling FB toolbar > Briefcase Function-Block

Edit the Briefcase FB

Open the Briefcase FB dialog-box:

1.	Double-click the Briefcase FB in the graphic-area

- or -

1.	See How to Open a Dialog-Box

Briefcase FB dialog-box

You use a Briefcase FB to hide Function-Blocks from the graphic-area.

You can add all of the Function-Blocks in your model inside one Briefcase FB. However, it usually better to add to a Briefcase FB those Function-Blocks that are connected together with wires. You can add further Briefcase FBs to hide Function-Blocks that are connected together different wires.

You can add a Briefcase FB to a different Briefcase FB

Dialog-13.2-BriefCaseFB-DisplayOptions

Display Options

<< write a label >>

Enter text for a label to remind you which FBs are in the Briefcase FB. The label shows above the Briefcase FB in the graphic-area.

Background colour and Transparency

Use the Background Colour button to edit the colour of the Briefcase Display Window. See example, below.

Use the Transparency slider to edit the transparency/opacity of the Briefcase Display Window.

Hide Elements / Show Elements

Show or hide the Briefcase Display Window.

☑	Hide-Elements to hide Briefcase Display Window

❑	Show Elements to show Briefcase Display Window

Dialog-13.2-BriefCaseFB-AddRemove

Add / Remove Function-Blocks

Add FBs to the Briefcase

1.	Click the Padlock to unlock the Briefcase (the Padlock icon becomes unlocked - see image).

2.	Click FBs in the graphic-area

Each FB you click moves from the graphic-area to the Function-Blocks box in the Briefcase

3.	Click the Padlock again to lock the Briefcase.

Remove FBs from the Briefcase:

1.	Click the Padlock to unlock the Briefcase

2.	Click a FB that is in the Function-Blocks box to make a FB 'active'.

3.	Click the Red Cross button

The FB returns to the graphic-area, outside of the Briefcase Display Window.

4.	Do 1 - 3 again to remove a different FBs.

5.	Click the Padlock again to lock the Briefcase

Arrange FBs with 'Briefcase Display Window'.

1.	Click Show Elements check-box - see above.

2.	Click the 'Arrange FBs' button

The FBs are now in a linear array in the graphic-area.

You may still want to re-order the linear array

Add all FBs that are connected with wires 'upstream' of a FB

1.	Click a FB in the Function-Blocks box in the Briefcase

2.	Click the Add All Upstream icon

The FBs that are 'upstream' (connected to its input-connector) are now in the Function-Block box

Add all FBs that are connected with wires 'downstream' of a FB

1.	Click a FB in the Function-Blocks box in the Briefcase

2.	Click the Add All Downstream icon

The FBs that are 'downstream' (connected to its output-connector) are now in the Function-Block box

Remove all FBs from the Briefcase

1.	Click the Remove All icon

The FBs are now in the graphic-area

GA-BriefcaseFB-Window

Example:

•	Briefcase FB and label: Lifter Mech.

•	The Briefcase Display Window is a light grey box, with a blue border.

•	The window resizes as you add or remove Function-Blocks.

To move the Briefcase FB and the FBs in the graphic-care

1.	Drag the Briefcase FB to move the Briefcase Display Window

Note: When you open a model, Briefcase FBs stack on top of each other at the top and left of the graphic-area.

You must drag them one at a time to separate them.

Briefcase FB dialog-box

Dialog-13.2-BriefCaseFB-DisplayOptions

Display Option

<< write a label >>

Enter a name for the FB that will remind you which FBs you have put in the Briefcase FB. The label shows above the Briefcase FB in the graphic-area (when you show Function-Block captions. See Application-Settings for FB display options)

'Background colour' and 'Transparency' Slider

Click the button to select a colour for the 'Briefcase Display Window'.

Use the Transparency slider to edit the opacity of its colour.

'Hide Elements' / 'Show Elements'

Use this check-box to show or hide the 'Briefcase Display Window'.

☑	'Hide-Elements' to hide 'Briefcase Display Window'.

❑	'Show Elements' to show 'Briefcase Display Window'

Dialog-13.2-BriefCaseFB-AddRemove

Add / Remove Function-Blocks

Add FBs to the Briefcase

1.	Click the Padlock to unlock the Briefcase (the Padlock icon becomes unlocked - see image).

2.	Click FBs that are in the graphic-area

Each FB you click, moves from the graphic-area to the Briefcase: Function-Blocks box.

3.	Click the Padlock again to lock the Briefcase.

Remove FBs from the Briefcase:

1.	Click the Padlock to unlock the Briefcase

2.	Click a FB that is in the Function-Blocks box - in the dialog - to make a FB 'active'.

3.	Click the Red Cross button

4.	Click the Padlock again to lock the Briefcase

Arrange FBs with 'Briefcase Display Window'.

1.	Click the 'Arrange FBs' button to put the FBs in a 'linear array' in the graphic-area.

Note: You may also need to use the 'Show Elements' check-box - see Display Options above.

Add all FBs with wires that are connected 'upstream' of a FB

1.	Click a FB in the Function-Blocks box

2.	Click the Add All icon