Introduction
The Model Manager includes an extensive set of tools for working with version-controlled models and data files stored in databases. These tools are integrated into the COMSOL Desktop modeling environment (the Model Builder, the Application Builder, and the Physics Builder), enabling you to seamlessly switch between models and data files stored on the file system and in a Model Manager database.
In this, and in many other chapters, the term model will be used as a catch-all that also includes applications and physics. The term data file is a catch-all for other types of files that models may depend on as input or generate as output — including, for example, CAD data, interpolation functions, plots, and reports. See the Glossary for more details.
Some of the key Model Manager tools that you will encounter in your everyday modeling workflow are:
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Opening a model from a database from the Open window. See Opening Models from Databases to learn how you can find models to open.
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Saving a model to a database from the Save window. See Saving Models to Databases to learn how you can save your modeling work as a new version in a database.
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Reusing components, materials, physics and other model contents via the Select Model window. See Inserting Parts and Other Model Contents from Databases to learn how you can copy such contents from models stored in databases into the model currently opened in the COMSOL Desktop. See also Geometry Parts Saved in Databases to learn how you can reference geometry parts stored in databases in your models.
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Accessing older versions of a model from the Versions window. See The Versions Window for the COMSOL Desktop Model to learn how you can access previously saved versions of your model, including opening a version, restoring a version, or comparing two versions with each other.
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Selecting data files stored in a database as sources for input or targets for output in the Select File window. See Selecting Files in Databases as Input Sources to learn how you can import data into a model from a data file stored in a database. See Selecting Files in Databases as Output Targets to learn how you can export data from a model to a data file stored in a database.
You can quickly get started with the Model Manager by creating a new database stored locally on your computer. See Adding Databases and New Local Database to learn how you can create such a database directly from within the COMSOL Desktop.
The Model Manager is supported on the same platforms as COMSOL Multiphysics®: Windows®, Linux®, and macOS.
If you have installed a Model Manager server, you can also connect to its server database from within the COMSOL Desktop — see Connecting to a Server Database. Read more about installing, configuring, and administrating a Model Manager server in the Model Manager Server Manual.
The Model Manager comes with a dedicated workspace for database-specific tools such as browsing, organizing, and administrating your databases. See The Model Manager Workspace and further sections in this chapter to learn, for example, how you can browse and administer your configured databases in The Databases Window, search for models and data files in The Model Manager Window, and view settings, features, properties, and other metadata of your saved models in The Settings Window.
The Model Manager tools are default enabled in the COMSOL Desktop environment. You can hide all Model Manager functionality via the Preferences dialog box by clearing the Enable Model Manager check box on the Model Manager page. A program restart is required.