New Functionality in the Model Manager Server
Also see the Model Manager Server Manual for more information.
Working with Models in the Web Interface
The support for working with models via the Model Manager server web interface has been improved. You can now save new versions of models to your repositories by uploading MPH files as well as download existing model versions as MPH files. Any file saved in COMSOL Multiphysics version 5.3 or later may be uploaded and downloaded in this manner. Uploaded and downloaded models keep their model format as originally saved in COMSOL Multiphysics, which means that they can also be opened in that specific COMSOL Multiphysics version in the future.
The model tree of a model can now be viewed on its Model page. This enables you, for example, to quickly get an overview of a model’s capabilities by browsing its components, geometries, physics, studies, results, and other model nodes. You can see the required add-on products for building the model in a new Product Requirements field on the page.
If you have an installation of COMSOL Multiphysics 6.4, you can open the model in the COMSOL Desktop by clicking a new Open in COMSOL Desktop button on the Model page. The model can be opened in an already running COMSOL Multiphysics program session if available; otherwise, a new program session is launched. For applications, you can also click a new Run in COMSOL Desktop option.
Better Support for Adding Models and Files to Assets
Adding links to models in your repositories on the Asset page has been streamlined. A new in-page search field enables you to quickly find the model version you want to add. You can also press Ctrl+V to paste the model location URI of a model version into the field directly from your clipboard. The location URI can be copied, for example, from the Copy Location to Clipboard button on the Model page or via the Copy Location context menu option in the Model Manager workspace. The same functionality is also available when adding links to data files.
Assets linking to a model or data file are now displayed in a new Assets table on the Model and File pages, thus helping you to better navigate the dependencies and relationships in your database.
Using Workflows to Set Up Organizational Processes
A new workflow management system has been added to the Model Manager server web interface. The system enables you to set up processes and other business rules relevant to your organization by adding workflows to your assets. This includes, for example, defining the various stages of a project, the group of people involved in each project stage, and how a project may evolve between different stages.
By adding workflows to the asset management system, you can:
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Designate a primitive attribute as representing the various stages of a process, with the current value of the primitive attribute corresponding to a specific stage. A process could be defined for the asset itself or for individual table rows of a composite attribute. Any number of primitive attributes may be designated in this way.
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Let a specific value for a primitive attribute be its default stage. When adding a new asset, or when adding a new table row to a composite attribute that has the primitive attribute as a column, the field is automatically populated with this value.
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Only allow the values for a primitive attribute to change according to predefined transition rules. The transitions are shown on the Asset page as buttons that, when clicked, updates the asset with the new value.
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Grant permissions that controls which users can perform specific transitions.
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Grant permissions to primitive and composite attributes. You can restrict all but a select group of users from updating the value of a specific attribute.
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Grant permissions to assets based on their primitive and composite attribute values. You can, for example, let the value of an attribute determine which users can open the Asset page for an asset version or save new versions of an asset.
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Conditionally set a new value for a primitive attribute when some transition occurs.
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Conditionally cancel the save of an asset when some transition occurs.
Model Manager Search Tool Improvements
Some general improvements to the Model Manager search tool in the web interface include:
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You can now display the values of attributes as search result columns. Any primitive attribute or composite attribute in Simple mode may be added as a column.
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A new search filter for the Identifier field of an asset is available in the Filters menu. The field can also be shown as a search result column.
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The description of an attribute is shown as a tooltip in the Filters menu.
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The web interface now automatically detects if there is a syntax error when typing filters using the Model Manager search syntax. A warning message is displayed below the problematic input field.
Attributes in the Asset Management System
New capabilities have been added for attributes in the asset management system:
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A new Users picker attribute enables you to define a field that can store multiple users as its value.
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A new Datetime picker attribute is available for selecting a date and a time.
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You can easily sort the values for an Input fields widget on the Asset page using a new Sort alphabetically button.
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The allowed values of a primitive attribute can now have a custom sort order. This is useful for options that have a natural sort order other than alphabetical. You can also use a separate label for an allowed value different from the value itself.
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Members of a composite attribute can be set as primary. The column values of primary members are guaranteed to be unique and nonempty for composite attributes displayed as tables. This enables you, for example, to set up workflow rules for the individual rows of a table on the Asset page, with the primary value identifying the row itself.
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Primitive and composite attributes created on pages for adding and editing asset types can now be edited or permanently deleted without leaving those pages.
General improvements
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A new Time zone field is shown on the My Account page. The value is the time zone currently used when displaying date and time fields in the web interface, as well as the time zone used when evaluating search filters involving timestamps.
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The current uptime of managed server components is displayed on their respective pages in the System administration area.
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The memory usage of a managed search index server can now be monitored in the System administration area. The maximum allocated memory can be increased if the usage remains close to the maximum for extended periods of time.
Compatibility Between Versions
Older Versions of COMSOL Multiphysics
COMSOL Model Manager server version 6.4 supports client connections from COMSOL Multiphysics version 6.0 and newer.
Renamed Search Fields
The field identifiers @library and @sizeInBytes have been renamed to @assetLibrary and @size, respectively.
Fixed Value Types
The Value field for an Input field and Text area are now always Keyword and Text, respectively. The previously allowed Date and Integer value types should instead be combined with a Date picker and Number widget, respectively.