Data Exchange

Multiple Selections of Objects

Many operations can be carried out more efficiently if they deal with groups of objects, rather than with single objects. It is faster to move a group of objects than to move the objects one by one.

If all the objects which must be selected are positioned close to each other, you can use a frame to select the objects.

To select a group of objects with a selection frame:

  1. Place the cursor in a free area of the project window to mark one of the corners of the selection frame.

  2. Drag the mouse to the opposite diagonal corner of the frame. This creates a dotted rectangle (the selection frame). When you release the mouse button, all objects which are placed completely inside the frame are selected.

If you have selected a single object or a group of objects, you can modify the selection by adding and removing single objects.

To add (or remove) a single object to (or from) a selection:

  1. Press Shift

  2. Hold the Shift key down while you click on the objects that you want to add to the selection. If you click on an object that is already in the selection, this object is removed from the selection.

Multiple selections can be moved, deleted, copied and duplicated in the project window. To cancel a multiple selection, you must either click in a free area of the project window, or press the Esc key. It is also possible to save a multiple selection as a macro.

Data Exchange and Conflicts in the Dataset Structure

Generally, two different projects also have different dataset structures. If you copy data from one project to another, IPSE must take care of checking this difference in order to avoid inconsistencies. In the following, the data that is inserted is called the object group. The object group may origin from objects that have been copied from another project to the clipboard or from a macro.

The following conflicts might appear when you insert an object group into a project:

  • Both the object group and the destination project contain only a single dataset. In this case, all objects are copied directly. Differences in the dataset names are ignored.

  • The object group contains only a single dataset and the destination project contains more than one dataset. In this case the data from the object group is copied to all datasets.

  • The object group has more than one dataset. If the destination dataset names and the source dataset names are the same, they are automatically linked. If this is not the case, you must resolve the conflict in the Dataset Mapping dialog that is automatically opened. (See Figure 1).

When IPSE detects a conflict that needs explicit resolution, it opens the Dataset Mapping dialog, in which you have to define how the data is transferred from the source to the destination datasets. See figure Figure 1.

To define the mapping of datasets in case of a conflict:

  1. Select a dataset in the list of destination datasets which is not linked with a line to a source dataset.

  2. Drag it to the source dataset you want. A line is drawn between the destination dataset and the source dataset.

  1. Each destination dataset has to be linked to one source dataset. You may use the same source dataset for more than one destination dataset.

  2. In case that you want to change an established link, select the line representing the link and click on Delete to remove the link. Establish a new link as described in 3.

  3. Click OK finish.

image
Figure 1. Dataset mapping dialog

In the example shown in Figure 1 the dataset called “Default” is linked to the “100 % Load” dataset from the source project. The “30 MW Load” dataset is linked to the “50 % Load” dataset. The data from the other source datasets are not used.

Names of Inserted Objects

In an IPSE project, each object, like units, connections, globals or data frames, is identified by a unique name. Elements in macros and in the copy buffer retain their names. When they are inserted in a project, this may lead to naming conflicts. IPSE resolves naming conflicts using the following strategy:

  • If the name of an inserted unit or connection is already in use, the inserted object is renamed. IPSE automatically generates unique names for the new objects.

  • If the name of an inserted global object is already used in the project, it is your choice to use either the old global instead or to add the new global under a new and unique name.

Data frames can use the names of variables and parameters in expressions. If these names are changed during insertion, the expressions may no longer be correct. If you copy and insert a data frame, you must always check the expressions it contains!