Working with array dimensions and elements

Use the following procedures to create, edit and delete array dimensions and elements.

Note: For information on how to assign dimensions to existing entities and how to define values/equations for array elements, see Creating arrayed entities.

To create array dimensions and elements

1. From the Interface, Model, or Equation menu, choose Array Editor.

   The Array Editor dialog box opens.

2. To create a new dimension, click the button below the "Array dimensions" list.

   A new row appears in the "Array Dimensions" list.

   

3. In the name column, type a name for the new dimension.

   Note: You can also add a new dimension and its label elements by copying and pasting them from a spreadsheet, comma-separated list, or tab-separated list. For more information, see To create a dimension by importing label elements.

4. In the Indexed By column, select the type of dimension you are creating: Number or Label..

5. In the "Size" column, select the number of elements you want to create for the dimension.

   • For a Number dimension, you are finished defining the dimension.

   • For a Label dimension, the corresponding number of rows appear in the "Dimension Element Labels" list.

     

6. Type the name for each element in the "Dimension element labels" list.

   Note: You can also paste label elements from a spreadsheet, comma-separated list, or tab-separated list. For more information, see To paste copied label elements.

7. To create another dimension and its elements, repeat steps 2 – 6.
8. When you are finished creating dimensions and elements, click OK.

You can now assign the dimension to entities in your model.

To edit a dimension or its elements, or to delete dimensions or elements, see To edit array dimensions and elements, below.

To edit array dimensions and elements

Use the following procedures to edit dimensions and elements in the Array Editor dialog box.

Notes: Plan your dimensions and elements carefully before you assign them to entities. Changes you make to dimensions and elements apply to all entities to which the dimensions are assigned.

When you add new element labels to a dimension that is assigned to one or more entities, we recommend that you add the labels to the end of the list of labels rather than inserting them between existing labels.

1. Open the Array Editor dialog box.
2. Make the changes you want to the dimensions and elements:
• To delete a dimension, select the dimension in the "Array dimensions" list and then click the button under the "Array dimensions" list. When you delete a dimension, all elements for that dimension are also deleted.
• To change a dimension's type, select Label or Number in the "Indexed By" column for the dimension.
• To change the number of elements for a Number dimension, change the number of elements in the dimension's "Size" column.
• To edit the elements for a Label dimension, first select the dimension in the "Array dimensions" list, then use one of the following procedures:
• To change the order of the elements for a Label dimension, select the element that you want to move up or down in the "Dimension element labels" list, and then click the or button.
• To edit an element's name, select the element and then edit the existing name or type a new name
• To delete an element, select the element and then click the button under the "Dimension element labels" list.
• To create more elements for a Label dimension, either change the number of elements in the dimension's "Size" column, or click the button under the "Dimension element labels" column.
• To insert a new element between two existing ones, select the element before which you want to insert the new element, then click the button. The new element is added before the selected element.
3. When you are finished editing dimensions and elements, click OK.

To create a dimension by importing label elements

Use the following procedure to create a dimension and its label elements by copying a list of label elements from a spreadsheet, a comma-separated list, or a tab-separated list.

1. In the file that contains the label elements that you want to use to create a dimension, select the elements and copy them to the clipboard by using the application's Copy command (or CTRL+C or COMMAND+C).
2. Open the Array Editor dialog box.

3. In the Array Editor dialog box, click the button under the "Array dimensions" list.

   A new dimension appears with a default name in the "Array dimensions" list and the copied label elements appear in the "Dimension element labels" list.

4. Edit the default dimension name. You can edit the dimension, its type, its size, and its label elements as you would any other dimension.

To paste copied label elements

Use the following procedure to copy a list of label elements from a spreadsheet, a comma-separated list, or a tab-separated list.

1. In the file that contains the label elements you want to paste, select the elements and copy them to the clipboard by using the application's Copy command (or CTRL+C or COMMAND+C).
2. Open the Array Editor dialog box.
3. In the Array Editor dialog box, select the dimension for which you want to paste elements.

4. Select where in the list of element labels you want to paste the new elements:

   To overwrite existing labels with the pasted labels, click to highlight any element lines that you want to overwrite. You can use CTRL+click (Window)/Command-click (Macintosh) to select separate element labels, or use SHIFT+click to select a range of element labels.

   To insert the pasted labels into an existing list of labels, select the label above which you want to insert the new labels.

5. Click the button, or press CTRL+V (Windows) or Command-V (Macintosh). The copied elements appear in the list of elements.

   Notes: Each element label must be unique. If you paste element labels that have the same names as existing ones, the software pastes the new labels with and gives them the next sequential default element names ("Element 1", "Element 2", etc.)
   
   If you overwrote existing labels and selected fewer labels than you pasted, the software overwrites the selected labels, then adds any remaining pasted labels to the list.

See Also