how to position and resize an image mask on my System Composer "component" block

When I insert an image mask over my System Composer component block, the image obscures the block title and port names. I have not found a way to adjust the position and size of the image mask to avoid this. Search results give the image() command: https://www.mathworks.com/help/simulink/slref/image.html but this is for Simulink blocks, not System Composer component blocks.

I also got setMaskImage command here which is specifically for System Composer component blocks: https://www.mathworks.com/help/systemcomposer/ref/systemcomposer.arch.architecture.setmaskimage.html but it does not list adjusting position and size of the mask image.

How would I go about adjusting the System Composer component mask image to improve the look and not obscure other important block name and port names?

Answer 1

[Josh Kahn]

Hi @Frank,

If you put this file into your userpath and restart matlab, it will add a right-click option to change the IconTransparency setting on components that you have masked. This is a work-around but I have also submitted an enhancement request to make this accessible via the GUI.

You can find your userpath by typing:

>>userpath

If you already have a file called sl_customizations in there, please send me a message because we will have to merge them

Josh

[Frank]

Hi @Josh Kahn. Thanks for the GUI work around, but not sure where to find the GUI menu for this work around. Of course I see the screen grab you attached, but still not clear.

[Josh Kahn]

If you right-click a component that is masked, you should see it in the context menu at the bottom

Josh

[Frank]

Just to be clear I did put your file in the path you designated and restarted matlab.

[Frank]

Just can't find the GUI menu items.

[Josh Kahn]

Try typing sl_refresh_customizations at the matlab prompt then check again

Josh

[Frank]

Thanks, Josh. I got the custom menu in place (called your function script from a project startup script), but selecting "opaque-with-ports" setting still consumes the full component block box (see attached image). I manually re-sized the mask_image itself and then re-added this smaller image to the component block, but it still filled the entire component block area. See attached screen grab.

[Josh Kahn]

Hi Frank,

I double-checked and this is a bug in R2024b Update 5 that is fixed in the next update.

Josh

[Frank]

Okay. Thanks. I am currently using System Composer R2024b Update 4 (Version 24.2.)

Answer 2

[Epsilon]

Hi Frank,

When setting the mask image for System Composer component block using ‘setMaskImage’ function, use ‘IconTransparency’ input argument and set it to ‘opaque-with-ports’ to ensure that the image does not obscure the port and block name.

Syntax:

comp.Architecture.setMaskImage(FilePath="Filepath", IconTransparency="opaque-with-ports");

Appearance before and after specifying the Icon Transparency argument:

Hope it helps.

[Frank]

Thanks for the response, but I do not know enough about programmatically working with System Composer architecture models. I am pretty good with matlab commands for data processing and some Simulink model settings but not with System Composer or Simscape, at least yet. Glad to know Math Works implemented a way to adjust the image mask. So I don't spend another hour+ on trying to resolve this (it should be a <10 sec operation), are you aware of a straight-forward GUI approach? With the model open I click the FORMAT tab and see nothing under the "Edit Image" menu drop down or when I use the "Edit Block icon image" insert mask image click-flow. Nor can I find any menu command when I select the system composer component block and click-right to see the pop-up menu choices. I looked under "Format" and "Properties"...nothing. Lastly, I also checked under the component's PropertyInspector...nothing.