Features Available on Toolbars and From Menus

The features listed in Table 2-2 are often accessed from multiple locations. In general, the button or menu option is located as follows, with some minor differences between Windows and the cross-platform (macOS and Linux) systems and as described in Windows Toolbars and Menus and Cross Platform (macOS and Linux) Toolbars and Menus.

•

The menu. See Figure 2-10 (Windows) and Figure 2-11 (macOS and Linux).

•

The (Windows only; see Figure 2-10). Customize the toolbar to access some of the buttons listed in the table.

•

and a (macOS and Linux, see Figure 2-11).

•

Additional menus along the top of the Desktop: , , . , and (macOS and Linux, see Figure 2-11).

Table 2-2: Features available on various Toolbars and from menus
icon	Name	Description or Link to more Information
Creating Models
	New (Ctrl+N)	Open the New window to begin modeling using the Model Wizard or start with a Blank Model. See Creating a New Model. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users). Additional options are available when check boxes are enabled on the Preferences dialog box under Physics Builder.
	Blank Model	Start a new blank model without any settings. This command is available after choose File>New. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).
Working in the Application Builder
	Application Builder (Ctrl+Alt+A)	Toggle between the Application Builder and COMSOL Multiphysics Model Builder windows. For Windows users this is available in the Home toolbar and the Developer toolbar.
	Data Access	Add data and properties that can be modified from a running application. For Windows users this is available in the Developer toolbar. See Data Access in the Application Builder Reference Manual.
	Record Method	Record changes to the embedded model to a new method. For Windows users this is available in the Developer toolbar. See Recording Code in the Application Builder Reference Manual.
	Test Application (Ctrl+F8)	Launch the application in a separate window. For Windows users this is available in the Developer toolbar and on the Quick Access Toolbar. See Testing the Application in the Application Builder Reference Manual.
	Run Application	Run an application as a standalone application using a custom user interface. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).
	Compiler	Compile an application to run separately from COMSOL Multiphysics or COMSOL Server as a standalone executable app. Requires a license for COMSOL Compiler.
Opening and Saving Files
	Open (Ctrl+O)	Open an existing file located on the computer. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).
	Recent files	From the File menu, select a recent file to open. For Windows users, the file is selected from the Recent submenu. For cross-platform users, the most recent files are listed at the bottom of the list. Windows users can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar to access this button.
	Find	Displays search results from searches performed using the Find tool. Press Ctrl+F. Windows users can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar to access this button. See Searching and Finding Text.
	Application Libraries	Open The Application Libraries Window. For Windows users, this is available in the Home toolbar’s Windows menu or from the File menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button. For cross-platform users, this is available from the File menu.
	Open Recovery File	COMSOL Multiphysics can store recovery files each time you start a solver. This is a preference setting that is initially active by default. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See Saving and Opening Recovery Files.
	Save (Ctrl+S)	Save the current file. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users). See Saving COMSOL Files.
	Save As	Choose to save in one of the COMSOL file formats. The Save As window opens, and from the Save as type list select: COMSOL Application (.mph) (the default), Model file for Java (.java), Model file for MATLAB (.m), or Model File for Visual Basic (.vba). For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See About the COMSOL Model File Formats.
	Revert to Saved	Opens the last saved version of the file and reinitializes the GUI. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users). See Reverting to the Last Saved File.
	Compact History	The files for Java and for MATLAB contain the entire model history, including settings that are no longer part of the model or application. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See Compacting the History.
	Run Application	Run an application created using the Application Builder. For all users, this is available from the File menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).
COMSOL Multiphysics Server
	Connect to Server	To connect to a server from the COMSOL Desktop. For all users, this is available from the File>COMSOL Multiphysics Server menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See Connecting to a COMSOL Multiphysics Server.
	Disconnect from Server	To close the connection to the server or MATLAB. For all users, this is available from the File>COMSOL Multiphysics Server menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See Disconnecting from a COMSOL Multiphysics Server.
	Import Application from Server	To import a particular application when working with MATLAB, Excel, or the COMSOL API. For all users, this is available from the File>COMSOL Multiphysics Server menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See Working with MATLAB, Excel, or the COMSOL API.
	Remove Applications from Server	To delete applications (remove them from the server) that you have created using ModelUtil. For all users, this is available from the File>COMSOL Multiphysics Server menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users). See Working with MATLAB, Excel, or the COMSOL API.
Model Builder Toolbar
	Previous Node (Alt+Left) Next Node (Alt+Right)	Navigate back to the node previously selected or to the next node in the sequence. See also Keyboard Shortcuts.
	Show	Click to select an option from the list. See Advanced Physics, Study, and Results Sections.
	Collapse All Expand All	Click to collapse or expand all nodes in the model tree, except the top nodes on the main branch.
	Model Builder Node Label	Choose to display any combination of Name, Tag, or Type. See Displaying Node Names, Tags, and Types in the Model Builder and Settings and Properties Windows for Feature Nodes.
Undo, Redo, Copy, Paste, Duplicate, and Delete
	Undo (Ctrl+Z) Redo (Ctrl+Y)	Undo and Redo the last operation for some operations (such as adding, disabling, moving, and deleting nodes in the Model Builder) as well as changing values in the Settings window. For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar. For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the Edit menu. See Undoing and Redoing Operations.
	Copy	Copy, paste, and duplicate some features. Also right-click a node to select one of these options from the context menu. For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar. For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the Edit menu. See Copying, Pasting, and Duplicating Nodes.
	Paste
	Duplicate
	Delete (Del)	Delete some nodes while building a model, or delete a selected geometry object. Also press the Del key or right-click a node to select this option from the context menu. For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar. For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the Edit menu. See Clearing Sequences and Deleting Sequences or Nodes.
	Select All	To select all or clear the selection of all geometric entities in the Graphics window, click the Select All or Clear Selection buttons, respectively. For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Edit menu. See Selecting and Clearing Selection of Geometric Entities.
	Clear Selection
Other
	Reset Desktop	Set the COMSOL Desktop back to widescreen or regular screen, or reset it to default settings. For Windows users, this is available in the Home toolbar, in the Layout menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button. For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the Windows>Desktop Layout menu. See Customizing the Desktop Layout.
	Licensed and Used Products	Open the Licensed and Used Products window to list or block the products your license includes. See Checking and Controlling Products and Licenses Used. For Windows users, this is available from the File menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Options menu.
	Preferences	To make changes to how items are displayed or available throughout the COMSOL Multiphysics software. See Preferences Settings. For Windows users, this is available from the File menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Options menu.
	Measure	Measure geometric properties such as volumes (see Measuring Geometry Objects). Available in the Geometry toolbar. Also, for Windows users, you can customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.
	Group (Ctrl+G)	Group related and similar nodes under a Group node. Available in several parts of the model tree (see Custom Grouping of Nodes). Also, for Windows users, you can customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.
	Ungroup (Ctrl+Shift+G)	Ungroup nodes that are grouped under a Group node. Available in several parts of the model tree (see Custom Grouping of Nodes). Also, for Windows users, you can customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.
Help and Documentation
	Help (F1)	Open the context help. See COMSOL Documentation and Help. For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu or in the upper-right corner of the Desktop. For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the Help menu.
	Documentation (Ctrl+F1)	Open the Documentation. For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the Help menu. See COMSOL Documentation and Help.
	Application Gallery	Go to the online Application Gallery on the COMSOL website. For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu.
	Support Center	Go to the online Support Center on the COMSOL website. For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu.
	Training	Go to the Training page on the COMSOL website. For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu.
	Check for Product Updates	For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu. See Checking for Product Software Updates.
	Update COMSOL Application Libraries	For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu. See The Application Library Update Window
	Update COMSOL Part Libraries	For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu. See The Part Library Update Window
	About COMSOL Multiphysics	For Windows users, this is available from the File>Help menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the Help menu. See The About COMSOL Multiphysics Box.

Table 2-2: Features available on various Toolbars and from menus

icon

Name

Description or Link to more Information

Creating Models

New (Ctrl+N)

Open the New window to begin modeling using the Model Wizard or start with a Blank Model. See Creating a New Model.

For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).

Additional options are available when check boxes are enabled on the Preferences dialog box under Physics Builder.

Blank Model

Start a new blank model without any settings. This command is available after choose . It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

Working in the Application Builder

Application Builder (Ctrl+Alt+A)

Toggle between the Application Builder and COMSOL Multiphysics Model Builder windows. For Windows users this is available in the toolbar and the toolbar.

Data Access

Add data and properties that can be modified from a running application. For Windows users this is available in the toolbar. See Data Access in the Application Builder Reference Manual.

Record Method

Record changes to the embedded model to a new method. For Windows users this is available in the toolbar. See Recording Code in the Application Builder Reference Manual.

Test Application (Ctrl+F8)

Launch the application in a separate window. For Windows users this is available in the toolbar and on the Quick Access Toolbar. See Testing the Application in the Application Builder Reference Manual.

Run Application

Run an application as a standalone application using a custom user interface. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

Compiler

Compile an application to run separately from COMSOL Multiphysics or COMSOL Server as a standalone executable app. Requires a license for COMSOL Compiler.

Opening and Saving Files

Open (Ctrl+O)

Open an existing file located on the computer.

For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).

Recent files

From the menu, select a recent file to open. For Windows users, the file is selected from the submenu. For cross-platform users, the most recent files are listed at the bottom of the list.

Windows users can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar to access this button.

Find

Displays search results from searches performed using the Find tool. Press Ctrl+F. Windows users can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar to access this button. See Searching and Finding Text.

Application Libraries

Open The Application Libraries Window.

For Windows users, this is available in the toolbar’s menu or from the menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

Open Recovery File

COMSOL Multiphysics can store recovery files each time you start a solver. This is a preference setting that is initially active by default. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See Saving and Opening Recovery Files.

Save (Ctrl+S)

Save the current file. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).

See Saving COMSOL Files.

Save As

Choose to save in one of the COMSOL file formats. The window opens, and from the list select: (the default), , , or .

For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See About the COMSOL Model File Formats.

Revert to Saved

Opens the last saved version of the file and reinitializes the GUI. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).

See Reverting to the Last Saved File.

Compact History

The files for Java and for MATLAB contain the entire model history, including settings that are no longer part of the model or application. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See Compacting the History.

Run Application

Run an application created using the Application Builder.

For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on the Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users) or the Main Toolbar (cross-platform users).

COMSOL Multiphysics Server

Connect to Server

To connect to a server from the COMSOL Desktop. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See Connecting to a COMSOL Multiphysics Server.

Disconnect from Server

To close the connection to the server or MATLAB. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See Disconnecting from a COMSOL Multiphysics Server.

Import Application from Server

To import a particular application when working with MATLAB, Excel, or the COMSOL API. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See Working with MATLAB, Excel, or the COMSOL API.

Remove Applications from Server

To delete applications (remove them from the server) that you have created using ModelUtil. For all users, this is available from the menu. It is also available on a customized Quick Access Toolbar (Windows users).

See Working with MATLAB, Excel, or the COMSOL API.

Model Builder Toolbar

Previous Node (Alt+Left)

Next Node (Alt+Right)

Navigate back to the node previously selected or to the next node in the sequence. See also Keyboard Shortcuts.

Show

Click to select an option from the list. See Advanced Physics, Study, and Results Sections.

Collapse All

Expand All

Click to collapse or expand all nodes in the model tree, except the top nodes on the main branch.

Model Builder Node Label

Choose to display any combination of Name, Tag, or Type. See Displaying Node Names, Tags, and Types in the Model Builder and Settings and Properties Windows for Feature Nodes.

Undo, Redo, Copy, Paste, Duplicate, and Delete

Undo (Ctrl+Z)

Redo (Ctrl+Y)

Undo and Redo the last operation for some operations (such as adding, disabling, moving, and deleting nodes in the Model Builder) as well as changing values in the Settings window.

For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar.

For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the menu.

See Undoing and Redoing Operations.

Copy

Copy, paste, and duplicate some features. Also right-click a node to select one of these options from the context menu.

For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar.

For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the menu.

See Copying, Pasting, and Duplicating Nodes.

Paste

Duplicate

Delete (Del)

Delete some nodes while building a model, or delete a selected geometry object. Also press the Del key or right-click a node to select this option from the context menu.

For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar.

For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the menu.

See Clearing Sequences and Deleting Sequences or Nodes.

Select All

To select all or clear the selection of all geometric entities in the Graphics window, click the or buttons, respectively.

For Windows users, this is available on the Quick Access Toolbar. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

See Selecting and Clearing Selection of Geometric Entities.

Clear Selection

Other

Reset Desktop

Set the COMSOL Desktop back to widescreen or regular screen, or reset it to default settings.

For Windows users, this is available in the toolbar, in the menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the menu.

See Customizing the Desktop Layout.

Licensed and Used Products

Open the Licensed and Used Products window to list or block the products your license includes. See Checking and Controlling Products and Licenses Used.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

Preferences

To make changes to how items are displayed or available throughout the COMSOL Multiphysics software. See Preferences Settings.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. You can also customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

Measure

Measure geometric properties such as volumes (see Measuring Geometry Objects). Available in the toolbar. Also, for Windows users, you can customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

Group (Ctrl+G)

Group related and similar nodes under a Group node. Available in several parts of the model tree (see Custom Grouping of Nodes). Also, for Windows users, you can customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

Ungroup (Ctrl+Shift+G)

Ungroup nodes that are grouped under a node. Available in several parts of the model tree (see Custom Grouping of Nodes). Also, for Windows users, you can customize the Quick Access Toolbar and then click the button.

Help and Documentation

Help (F1)

Open the context help. See COMSOL Documentation and Help.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu or in the upper-right corner of the Desktop.

For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the menu.

Documentation (Ctrl+F1)

Open the Documentation.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu.

For cross-platform users, this is available in the Main Toolbar or from the menu.

See COMSOL Documentation and Help.

Application Gallery

Go to the online Application Gallery on the COMSOL website.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

Support Center

Go to the online Support Center on the COMSOL website.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

Training

Go to the Training page on the COMSOL website.

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

Check for Product Updates

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

See Checking for Product Software Updates.

Update COMSOL Application Libraries

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

See The Application Library Update Window

Update COMSOL Part Libraries

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

See The Part Library Update Window

About COMSOL Multiphysics

For Windows users, this is available from the menu. For cross-platform users, this is available from the menu.

See The About COMSOL Multiphysics Box.