3LGM²-Tool overview
This section provides an overview of the basic functions of the 3LGM²-Tool. The following view is obtained by starting the 3LGM²-Tool and selecting 'File' and 'New Model' from the menu bar.
[TOC]
The Model Browser
In the model browser you can see the currently open models and their elements. You can choose to display all elements of a model or the elements of the individual submodels of a model.
The elements are divided into elements of the domain layer, the logical tool layer and the physical tool layer.
You can open a node in the model browser by clicking with the left mouse button on it. By double-clicking with the left mouse button on an element in the model browser its properties dialog opens. By right-clicking on a node or an element, its context menu is displayed.
The Document Window
The document window displays the layers of the model. When viewing the layers individually, one of the layers is displayed at a time. You can select the layers using the standard toolbar. You can change the views by using the button 'MultiView' in the standard toolbar.
The Menu Bar
** File **
The File menu contains actions for handling model files.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| New Model | Use this menu item to create a new model. A new tab with the name of the new model appears in the model browser. If you have several models open, you can use these tabs to select the model to be edited. |
| Open... | Use this menu item to open an existing model. A corresponding dialog box appears in which you can select the file to be opened. Saved 3LGM² models usually have the extension .3lgm. |
| Save | Use this menu item to save your changes to a model. If you have opened a new model that has not yet been saved, a dialog will appear in which you can select a directory for the file to be saved and enter the name of the file. Saved 3LGM² models usually have the extension .3lgm. If your new model has already been saved to a file or if you have opened an existing file, the current state of the model is saved to this file when you click the Save Model button. |
| Save as... | Using this menu item you can save your changes to a model in a file to be renamed. A dialog box appears in which you can select a directory for the file to be saved and enter the name of the file. Saved 3LGM² models usually have the extension .3lgm. |
| Close | Closes the current model. |
| Description... | This menu item takes you to a text editor in which you can describe the individual submodels of the currently selected model. Use the tabs to select a submodel and enter your description or notes on this model as free text. |
| Import | The import function gives you the possibility to import an already existing model or submodel into your model. Please read the section Importing models. |
| Export | The export function gives you the possibility to export your model in another format or as a graphic. Please read the section Exporting Models. |
| Exit | Closes the 3LGM²-Tool. |
Edit
In the Edit menu you will find tools for working with the models.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Undo | Use this menu item to undo the last changes made to your model. |
| Redo | With this menu item you can restore the last undone changes. |
| Search... | This menu item opens a dialog for text search in your model. You can enter a name to be searched for or a description, or both. If you want to search only in the labels and descriptions of a certain node type, you can select it in the selection list Node Type. If you have not selected a node type, the labels and descriptions of all nodes will be searched for the text you specify. |
| Select All | Selects all elements of the selected submodel. |
| Copy | Copies the selected elements to the clipboard. |
| Cut | Copies the selected elements to the clipboard and removes them from the model. |
| Paste | Pastes the content of the clipboard at the selected position. |
| Remove From Submodel | Removes the selected element from the submodel. |
| Remove From Model (incl. all Submodels) | Removes selected element from the model including all submodels |
** View **
The View menu allows you to customize the view of the 3LGM²-Tool to suit your needs.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Toolbars | Use this menu to show and hide various toolbars of 3LGM²-Tool. |
| Model browser | Use this menu item to hide or show the model browser. |
| Template browser | With this menu item you can hide or show the template browser. |
| Consistency Table | Use this menu item to show and hide the consistency table. |
| Show View Component Titles | With this action you can hide or show all browser titles. |
| Single-layer perspective/ Three-layer perspective | Use this menu item to switch the views in the document window. You have the choice between the view of all three layers in one window or the single view of the layers. |
| Domain layer | Selects the domain layer. |
| Logical tool layer | Selects the logical tool layer. |
| Physical tool layer | Selects the physical tool layer. |
| Graph Settings... | Opens a dialog that allows you to change the view of the document window. If the view of the layers in the document window is set to single layer view, only the zoom factor can be changed. If all three layers are displayed in the document window, the zoom factor, layer angle and layer distance can be changed. The views can be changed with the button 'MultiView'. |
| Matrix View | Opens a new matrix view. For information on working with the Matrix view, see The Matrix View. |
** Insert **
The Insert menu contains the elements that can be inserted in the selected layer. By selecting an element you insert it into the selected layer. For more information, see Inserting and Modifying Model Elements.
** Layout **
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Global Layout... | Use this menu item to modify the global layout of your model. A dialog opens where you can set the shape, color and font for each individual building component element. The settings are effective for all elements of 3LGM²-Tool after pressing the OK or Apply button. |
| Layer Layout | Three sub-items allow you to change the appearance of the currently selected layer. |
| Reset Color and Transparency - cancels visual changes in the layer | |
| Change Color... - changes the color of the layer | |
| Transparency - makes the layer non, half or fully transparent. |
** Submodels **
This menu item contains some functions for working with submodels.
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| New Submodel... | Creates a new submodel. A dialog appears asking you to name the submodel. Then click OK and the submodel is displayed. |
| Delete submodel... | Use this menu item to delete your current submodel. |
| Rename submodel... | Use this menu item to rename your current submodel. |
| Show Interlayer Connections | Shows the interlayer connections of the selected layer. |
| Hide Interlayer Connections | Hides the interlayer connections of the selected layer. |
** Analysis **
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Repository... | Shows a list of predefined analyses. |
| Editor... | Opens a dialog for creating new analyses. |
| Reset Results | With this menu item you can reset the analysis result, which is also displayed directly in the model. |
| Create New Submodel | When this option is selected, a new submodel is created for each analysis result. Before starting the analysis you will be asked to give a new name to the resulting model. More about analysis. |
| Analysis Color... | here you can choose the color of the analysis |
| Redundancy Analysis... | with this menu item, the analyses are checked for redundancy |
| Redundancy of functions regarding application component configurations | here the redundancy of functions regarding application component configurations is displayed |
| Redundancy of object types regarding logical memory | here the redundancy of object types regarding logical memory is displayed |
| Data availability | here the data are checked for availability |
Options
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| General | Opens a dialog in which you can make some general settings. |
| Model Browser | Opens a dialog in which you can make some settings for the display of the model browser. |
| Graphics | Opens a dialog in which you can make some settings for displaying the graphics in the document window. |
| RMI-Settings... | |
| Set Default Model Type... | Opens a dialog where you can decide which model type is needed. |
| Show frame around text fields | If you have created text fields, you can use this option to specify whether a frame should be displayed around the text fields. |
| Language (Sprache) | here you choose your language. |
| Expert Mode | Use this function to display additional elements in the model. |
Extras
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Create User-defined property fields... | Opens a dialog in which you can create new property fields for model elements |
| Attribute - Editor... | Opens a dialog in which you can edit attributes. |
| Activate key figure calculation | Activates the calculation of the key figure. |
| Assign ETNT combinations automatically | When this option is selected, the ETNT combinations of the interfaces are automatically assigned to the connected communication relationships. Each communication relationship is assigned exactly those ETNT relationships for which the interface from which the communication relationship originates sends this ETNT combination and the interface to which the communication relationship leads can receive this ETNT combination. Therefore, if in your model for each two interfaces, which are connected by a communication relation and can send or receive the same ETNT combination, it is generally valid that this ETNT combination is then also transmitted by this communication relation, then you can activate this function. When you activate this function, all communication relationships already existing in your model are automatically checked and, if necessary, updated. Note: In older versions of 3LGM, it was not yet possible to assign communication relationships to ETNT combinations. By automatically assigning ETNT combinations to communication links, you can quickly create these missing entries. |
| Plugin | Opens a selection of plugins. |
Help
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Help Contents... | Starts the online help of the 3LGM²-Tool. |
| Direct Help | Allows the user to click on a component for further information. |
| Analyzing IS with 3lgm²-Tool... | Opens a FAQ page about the analysis options |
| Online Help... | Opens the support page of the 3lgm website |
| Model Example (message based) | Opens the message based example model |
| Model Example (service based) | Opens the service based example model |
| Model Library... | Shows the model templates in the 3lgm tool directory |
| Report an issue... | Opens the issue creator of the 3lgm project in Bitbucket |
| About 3LGM²-Tool... | Opens a window with information about the 3LGM²-Tool. |
The Standard Toolbar
The standard toolbar is located under the menu bar. It contains some of the most frequently used functions of the 3LGM²-Tool. The buttons of the standard toolbar have the following functions:
| Button | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Create New Model | Use this button to create a new model. A new tab appears in the model browser with the name of the new model. If you have several models open, you can use these tabs to select the model to be edited. |
 | Open model | Use this button to open an existing model. A corresponding dialog appears in which you can select the file to be opened. Saved 3LGM² models usually have the extension .3lgm. |
 | Save Model | Use this button to save your changes to a model. If you have opened a new model that has not yet been saved, a dialog will appear in which you can select a directory for the file to be saved and enter the name of the file. Saved 3LGM² models usually have the extension .3lgm. If your new model has already been saved to a file or if you have opened an existing file, the current state of the model is saved to this file when you click the Save Model button. |
 | Undo | Use this button to undo the last changes made to your model. |
 | Redo | Use this button to restore the last undone changes. |
  | MultiView | Use this button to switch views in the document window. You can choose between viewing all three layers in one window or viewing the layers individually. |
 | Domain Layer | Selects the domain layer. |
 | Logical tool layer | Selects the logical tool layer. |
 | Physical tool layer | Selects the physical tool layer. |
 | Previous window | Switches view to previous window. |
 | Next window | Switches view to next window. |
 | Show interlayer connection | Shows the interlayer connection for the selected elements or layer |
 | Hide interlayer connection | Hides the interlayer connection for the selected elements or layer |
    | Text alignment | Basic text alignment: flush left, flush right, justified, and centered. |
 | Text alignment (horizontal) | Aligns text horizontally |
 | Text alignment (vertical) | Aligns text vertically |
 | Horizontal element alignment | Aligns selected elements horizontally according to the last selected element. |
 | Vertical element alignment | Aligns selected elements vertically according to the last selected element. |
 | Element grid alignment | Aligns selected elements into a grid |
   | Format size | Sets the height and/or widht of the selected elements according to the last selected element |
    | Set element order | Sets the order of the selected element up or down |
 | Set element Font | Opens the font selecter for the selected element |
 | Set element color | Opens the color selecter for the selected element |
   | Set element transparency | Sets the transparency of the selected element to half, full, and non transparent. |
 | Adopt font | Sets the font of the selected elements according to the last selected element. |
 | Adopt color | Sets the color of the selected elements according to the last selected element. |
 | Adopt transparency | Sets the transparency of the selected elements according to the last selected element. |
 | Adopt all | Sets the font, color, and transparency of the selected elements according to the last selected element |
Consistency Table
The consistency table will display inconsistencies regarding model elements, that have been created. The description will display further information regarding the inconsistency.
You can either double click on the displayed error or use the context menu by right-clicking and selecting Property dialog for error-correcting to access the property dialog, where the error can be fixed.
With the context menu you can also just remove the inconsistency error message. This will just ignore the error and it will not be displayed anymore.
The Drawing Toolbar
The drawing toolbar is located at the bottom left. It contains the drawing objects available in the selected layer. Since different objects can be drawn depending on the selected layer, the appearance of the drawing toolbar also differs depending on the selected layer. Depending on the selected layer, the icons of the Drawing Toolbar have the following appearance and function:
for the domain layer
| Button | Option | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Select and edit elements | Select this button to select or edit elements of the domain layer in the document window. In the document window, you can now double-click on a function or object type to open its properties dialog. A single right-click on a function or object type opens a context menu for the element. |
| Function | Select this button to create a new function in the domain layer. Move the mouse into the document window. The mouse pointer is now displayed as crosshairs. Click with the left mouse button on a free space in the workspace layer. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to enter a name for this function. | |
| Object type | Select this button to create a new object type in the domain layer. Move the mouse to the document window. The mouse pointer is now displayed as crosshairs. Click with the left mouse button on a free space in the workspace layer. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to enter a name for this object type. | |
| Connection | Select this button to create a new connection in the domain layer. Move the mouse to the document window. Click on a model element and drag your cursor while holding the mouse button to a second element and release the mouse button. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to choose the connection type. |
For the logical tool layer
| Button | Option | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Select and edit elements | Select this button to select or edit logical tool layer elements in the Document Window. In the document window, you can now double-click on an application component to open its properties dialog. A single right-click on an application POU opens a context menu. |
| Application Component | Select this button to create a new application component in the Logical Tool layer. Move the mouse to the Document Window. The mouse pointer is now displayed as crosshairs. Click with the left mouse button on a free space in the Logical Tool Plane. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to enter a type and a name for this application component. | |
| Connection | Select this button to create a new connection in the logical layer. Move the mouse to the document window. Click on a model element and drag your cursor while holding the mouse button to a second element and release the mouse button. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to choose the connection type. |
For the physical tool layer
| Button | Option | Description |
|---|---|---|
 | Select and edit elements | Select this button to select or edit physical tool layer elements in the Document Window. In the document window, you can now double-click on a physical dataprocessing component to open its properties dialog. A single right-click on a physical device opens a context menu. |
| Physical Dataprocessing Component | Select this button to create a new physical dataproccessing component in the Physical Tool layer. Move the mouse to the Document Window. The mouse pointer is now displayed as crosshairs. Click with the left mouse button on a free space in the Physical Tool Plane. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to enter a name for this physical dataprocessing component. | |
| Connection | Select this button to create a new connection in the physical tool layer. Move the mouse to the document window. Click on a model element and drag your cursor while holding the mouse button to a second element and release the mouse button. A dialog box appears in which you are asked to choose the connection type. |
The View Tools
The view tools are used to customize the view of the document window as needed. If the view of the layers in the document window is set to single layer view, only the zoom factor can be changed. When all three layers are viewed in the document window, the zoom factor, layer angle and layer distance can be changed. The views can be changed with the button 'MultiView'.
| Previous chapter | Navigation Page | Next chapter |
|---|---|---|
| The 3LGM²-Tool | Properties of the model elements |