Model Finder

Search, filter, and browse examples, models, and projects

Since R2023b

Description

Use the Model Finder user interface (UI) to search, filter, and browse examples, models, and projects across multiple databases.

You can enter a search query in the Model Finder UI, to search examples, models, and projects in various databases. By default, Model Finder searches the MathWorks® Examples database. You can also create new databases or import any existing databases to Model Finder. These databases store textual information of the models, such as names, paths, descriptions, annotations, block details, and referenced files. Indexing model information yields better search results, quicker access to relevant information, and improved organization of model data within the databases.

Using the Model Finder UI, you can:

• Search — Use a search string to find examples, models, and projects.

• Configure databases — Create, import, and select databases to search.

• Filter — Narrow down the search results based on MathWorks product names, model locations, and example components.

• Browse — Navigate the search results and view their descriptions.

×

Open the Model Finder

MATLAB^® command prompt: Enter modelfinderui.

Examples

Search, Filter, and Browse Models

Search the MathWorks Examples database to find models, examples, and projects related to automatic vehicles and narrow the search results using filters.

1. To open the Model Finder UI, enter modelfinderui in MATLAB Command Window. By default, MathWorks Examples is set as the search database.

2. Enter the search term automatic vehicle in the search box.

   The default search results layout is the Models view. In this view, the search results display the models that match the search term in the names, paths, descriptions, annotations, and blocks of models indexed in the search database. To view the examples and projects that match your search, in the View section of the toolstrip, click Categorized.

3. To narrow the search results, in the Example Component section of the Filter pane, select Simulink Automotive Examples.

4. Scroll through the search results in the center pane of the Model Finder UI.

5. Click a search result to view its description and additional details such as required licenses, examples and projects using the model, block statistics, and referenced files in the Information pane.

6. To open a search result, click a suitable button: Open Model, Open Example, or Open Project.

Create New Database and Store Model Information

Create a new database and store model-related data in this database.

1. Open the Model Finder UI.

2. In the Database tab, click Create Database. A dialog box opens.

3. To create the database in the current path, enter the database name in the Database Name text box. Optionally, you can specify the database path in the Database Path text box to create the database in another location.

4. Click Create. A new database is created. You can now store model-related information in this database.

5. In the Databases pane, select the newly created database and then click View Folders.

6. In the View Folders window, click Register Folder and select a folder to add. This stores the textual data of the models located in the folder in the selected database.

You can use the new database to:

• Register more folders to store model-related data.

• Share database with team members.

• Search the database.

Parameters

Layout — Customize UI layout

Default Layout (default) | Recent | Databases | Filters | Information

Customize the Model Finder UI layout by using buttons to toggle the visibility of the Recent, Databases, Filters, and Information panes.

View — Customize search results layout

Models (default) | Categorized

Customize the search results layout using these options:

• Models — Select this view to display the models that match your search query. The search results include independent models and models that are referenced by examples and projects. To view the list of examples and projects that use a specific model, use the Information pane.

• Categorized — Select this view to display the examples, projects, and independent models that match your search query. To view the list of models used in a specific example or project, use the Information pane.

Databases — Select databases to set search scope

MathWorks Examples (default)

Select the databases from the available list of databases registered with Model Finder to set the search scope. To add more databases in the list, see Create New Database and Store Model Information.

Search — Enter search terms

search term

To search the selected databases, enter your search terms. Model Finder supports keyword-based searches and natural language queries to find examples, models, and projects that match your search terms. You can use quotation marks for searching phrases to get more targeted results. Searches are case-insensitive and disregard special characters.

Search Results — Display results matching the search query

Name | Location | Open Model | Copy Command

Display the examples, models, and projects matching the search query. For each match, the Model Finder UI displays a summary with the name of the example, model, or project; a short description; the matched search terms highlighted in yellow; path on your system that stores a previously opened search result using the Model Finder; a button to open the example, model, or project; and a button to copy the command that opens a specific search result.

Diagnostic Viewer — View diagnostic messages generated by Model Finder

Error | Warning | Information

View diagnostic messages generated by Model Finder for various Model Finder operations, such as searching, opening models, registering folders, or creating and managing databases.

Recent — Open recent search results

example names | model names | project names

Displays up to five recently opened example, model, or project names. To open any of these recent search results, click the name of the example, model, or project you want to open.

Filters — Narrow down search results

Matched In | Product | Location | Example Component

Use filters to narrow down your search results in Model Finder. Depending on the search results, you may see some or all of these filters displayed in the Model Finder UI:

Filter	Description
Matched In	Locations of the textual information of models that match the search terms. This includes the model name, example name, model path, description, annotation, block names, component, and block type.
Product	Names of the MathWorks products used by the examples, models, or projects.
Location	Paths to the models or projects.
Example Component	Names of the example components for MathWorks examples.

Information — Description and block statistics

Description | Licenses | Blocks | File References

Additional information of the selected search result:

Information	Description
Description	Description of model or example as given in the model or example files.
Recommended Licenses	Display the toolbox licenses recommended to simulate a MathWorks model, example, or project. The icons and indicate whether you have the license. For details on toolboxes and how to install them using the Add-On Explorer, click on a license name. For more information, see Get and Manage Add-Ons.
Examples and Projects using the Model or Models used in the Example	Display examples and projects that use a specific model when the View is set as Models and display the models used in a specific example or project when the View is set as Categorized.
Total Blocks	Type and number of blocks.
File References	Display the external files that are referenced in the search result.

Version History

Introduced in R2023b