get_param

Get parameter names and values

Syntax

value = get_param(object,parameter)

Description

value = get_param(object,parameter) returns the value value of the specified parameter parameter for the target object specified by object. The target object can be a model, subsystem, library, block, line, port, or bus element port element specified as a path or a handle.

Open or load the related Simulink^® model, subsystem, or library before calling this function.

Examples

Get Block Parameter Values Using Block Paths

You can get the value of a block parameter using the get_param function with these input arguments:

• Block handle or full block path including block name, for example, 'myModel/mySubsystem/myblock'

• Parameter name

For more information about block handles and paths, see Get Handles and Paths.

In this example, you get the coefficients of the transfer function specified by a Transfer Function block named Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter.

• The block is located in the Controller subsystem of the slexAircraftExample model.

• The coefficients of the transfer function numerator are stored in the Numerator parameter. The coefficients of the transfer function denominator are stored in the Denominator parameter.

Open the example. Then, load the slexAircraftExample model.

mdl = 'slexAircraftExample';
load_system(mdl)

Get the transfer function coefficients.

path = [mdl,'/Controller/Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter'];
num = get_param(path,'Numerator')

num = 
'[1]'

denom = get_param(path,'Denominator')

denom = 
'[Tal,1]'

When the block path is long and you want to get multiple parameters, consider using block handles.

Get Block Parameter Values Using Block Handles

You can get the value of a block parameter using the get_param function with these input arguments:

• Block handle or full block path including block name, for example, 'myModel/mySubsystem/myblock'

• Parameter name

In this example, you get the coefficients of the transfer function specified by a Transfer Function block named Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter.

• The block is located in the Controller subsystem of the slexAircraftExample model.

• The coefficients of the transfer function numerator are stored in the Numerator parameter. The coefficients of the transfer function denominator are stored in the Denominator parameter.

Open the example. Then, get the block handle using the getSimulinkBlockHandle function. To simultaneously get the block handle and load the model, specify the second argument for the getSimulinkBlockHandle function as true.

path = 'slexAircraftExample/Controller/Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter';
h = getSimulinkBlockHandle(path,true)

h = 
755.0043

To get the parameter values, specify the block using the handle. Do not manually enter the value of the handle. The value output by the getSimulinkBlockHandle function in the MATLAB® Command Window may not match the handle value due to rounding. Instead, assign the handle to a variable, then use the variable name to specify the block. In this example, the value is assigned to the variable named h.

num = get_param(h,'Numerator')

num = 
'[1]'

denom = get_param(h,'Denominator')

denom = 
'[Tal,1]'

Get Block Parameter Names

You can get the value of a block parameter using the get_param function with these input arguments:

• Block handle or full block path including block name, for example, 'myModel/mySubsystem/myblock'

• Parameter name

This example shows how to get the parameter name.

Suppose you want to get the transfer function coefficients of the Transfer Function block named Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter in the slexAircraftExample model. To do so, you must get the names of the parameters that store the transfer function coefficients.

Open the example.

Get the handle of the Transfer Function block named Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter. To simultaneously get the block handle and load the model, specify the second argument for the getSimulinkBlockHandle function as true.

path = 'slexAircraftExample/Controller/Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter';
h = getSimulinkBlockHandle(path,true);

Get the names of all the block parameters of the Transfer Function block named Alpha-sensor Low-pass Filter using the get_param function.

get_param(h,'DialogParameters')

ans = struct with fields:
                    Numerator: [1x1 struct]
                  Denominator: [1x1 struct]
          ParameterTunability: [1x1 struct]
            AbsoluteTolerance: [1x1 struct]
    ContinuousStateAttributes: [1x1 struct]

The output shows that the transfer function coefficients are specified using a Numerator parameter and a Denominator parameter. Use these parameter names to get the coefficients in the numerator and denominator of the transfer function.

num = get_param(h,'Numerator');
denom = get_param(h,'Denominator')

denom = 
'[Tal,1]'

Get Block Paths and Names

You can get the value of a block parameter using the get_param function with these input arguments:

• Block handle or full block path including block name, for example, 'myModel/mySubsystem/myblock'

• Parameter name

This example shows how to get the full block path and name.

Get Paths and Names

Suppose you want to get the transfer function coefficients of all Transfer Function blocks in the slexAircraftExample model that act as filters. To do so, you must get the names and paths of all Transfer Function blocks in the model that act as filters.

Open the example. Then, load the slexAircraftExample model.

mdl = 'slexAircraftExample';
load_system(mdl)

Get the paths of all blocks in the slexAircraftExample model using the find_system function.

paths = find_system(mdl,'Type','Block');

When no search depth is specified, the find_system function finds all blocks from the specified level of the model hierarchy and all lower levels the specified level contains. Since slexAircraftExample is the top level of the model hierarchy, the command returns all blocks from every level of the model hierarchy.

Alternatively, if you know which subsystem the filters are in, use the get_param function. The get_param function only returns the paths of the blocks located in the specified level of model hierarchy, not in any of the subsystems the specified level contains. In this example, the filters are at the top level of the Controller subsystem.

paths=get_param(mdl+'/Controller','blocks');

Filter Paths and Names by Keyword

In the slexAircraftExample model, the Transfer Function blocks that act as filters have the word filter or Filter in their block name. Once you have the list of block paths, get the ones that contain the word filter or Filter.

filterpaths = paths(contains(paths,{'Filter','filter'}));

Get Block Parameter Values

Use the block names to get the transfer function coefficients. For example, use these commands to get the transfer function coefficients for the Alpha-sensor Low-Pass filter.

num = get_param(filterpaths{1},'Numerator');
denom = get_param(filterpaths{1},'Denominator')

denom = 
'[Tal,1]'

Display Block Types

Get a list of the types of blocks in the vdp model.

Open the example. Then, load the vdp model.

load_system('vdp')

Get a list of block paths and names for the vdp model.

blockpaths = find_system('vdp','Type','Block');

For each block in the vdp model, get the value of the BlockType parameter.

blocktypes = get_param(blockpaths,'BlockType')

blocktypes = 12x1 cell
    {'CustomCallbackButton'}
    {'Constant'            }
    {'SubSystem'           }
    {'Product'             }
    {'Scope'               }
    {'Math'                }
    {'Sum'                 }
    {'Sum'                 }
    {'Integrator'          }
    {'Integrator'          }
    {'Outport'             }
    {'Outport'             }

Get Model Parameter Values

You can get the value of a model parameter using the get_param function with these input arguments:

• Model name

• Model parameter name

The value of the IntegerOverflowMsg parameter indicates how a model handles integer overflow. The model can output no message, a warning message, or an error message.

Suppose you want to compare the value of the IntegerOverflowMsg parameter of two models.

Open the example. Then, load the vdp and f14 models.

load_system({'vdp','f14'})

Get the value of the IntegerOverflowMsg parameter for the vdp and f14 models.

vdpval = get_param('vdp','IntegerOverflowMsg');
f14val = get_param('f14','IntegerOverflowMsg');

When integer overflow occurs, the vdp model outputs a warning, while the f14 model does not output any message.

Compare the two parameter values using the strcmp function.

strcmp(vdpval,f14val)

ans = logical
   0

The strcmp function outputs 0, which indicates that the two models have different values for the IntegerOverflowMsg parameter.

Get Model Parameter Names

You can get the value of a model parameter using the get_param function with these input arguments:

• Model name

• Model parameter name

Suppose you want to compare the message parameter values of two models to ensure consistency in terms of which situations are handled with no message versus a warning message versus an error message. However, you do not know the names of all the message parameters.

Open the example. Then, load the vdp and f14 models.

load_system({'vdp','f14'})

Get a list of all model parameters.

params = get_param('vdp','ObjectParameters');

The function returns a structure. Create a cell array that contains the model parameter names.

names = fieldnames(params);

Message parameters end in the abbreviation Msg. Get the all model parameter names that contain the abbreviation Msg.

msgnames = names(contains(names,'Msg'));

Compare the message parameter values of the vdp and f14 models. Output the names of the parameters that have different values.

vdpval = cell(1,length(msgnames));
f14val = vdpval;

for i=1:length(msgnames)
    vdpVal{i} = get_param('vdp',msgnames{i});
    f14Val{i} = get_param('f14',msgnames{i});
    if(strcmp(vdpVal{i},f14Val{i})<1)
        disp(msgnames{i})
    end
end

IntegerOverflowMsg
IntegerSaturationMsg

Two message parameters have different values.

Get Options for Parameter Values and Object Property Values

To get a list of options for any of these, use the get_param function with the keyword options:

• A block parameter

• A model parameter

• Object properties, for example, the horizontal alignment options for an annotation

This example shows how to get a list of options for a block parameter, a masked parameter, and a model parameter.

Get List of Options for Block Parameter

Open the example. Then, load the vdp model.

load_system('vdp')

Get a list of options for the Output signal type parameter of the Square block.

funcoptions = get_param('vdp/Square','options@OutputSignalType')

funcoptions = 1x3 cell
    {'auto'}    {'real'}    {'complex'}

Get List of Options for Masked Subsystem Parameter

Get a list of options for the Read/Write permissions parameter of the masked Subsystem block named Mu.

get_param('vdp/Mu','options@Permissions')

ans = 1x3 cell
    {'ReadWrite'}    {'ReadOnly'}    {'NoReadOrWrite'}

Get List of Options for Model Parameter

Get a list of options for the model parameter named AlgebraicLoopMsg.

get_param('vdp','options@AlgebraicLoopMsg')

ans = 1x3 cell
    {'none'}    {'warning'}    {'error'}

Get List of Options for Annotation

Find the annotations in the vdp model.

h = find_system(gcs,'FindAll','on','Type','annotation');

Output the annotation text corresponding to the handles in the matrix h.

get_param(h,'PlainText')

ans = 3x1 cell
    {'Copyright 2004-2022 The MathWorks, Inc.'}
    {'Van der Pol Equation'                   }
    {'x'' - µ(1-x^2) x' + x = 0'              }

Get a list of options for the horizontal alignment of the title annotation, 'Van der Pol Equation'.

get_param(h(2),'options@HorizontalAlignment')

ans = 1x3 cell
    {'left'}    {'center'}    {'right'}

Get Value of Masked Parameter

You can access the value of a masked block parameter using the get_param function with the keyword value.

Open the example. Then, open the vdp model.

open_system('vdp')

Get the value of the gain parameter of the masked Subsystem block named Mu.

get_param('vdp/Mu','value@gain')

ans = 
1

In the model, double-click the block.

On the mask, move the slider that changes the gain parameter.

Get the value of the gain parameter again.

get_param('vdp/Mu','value@gain')

ans = 
1

Get Root Parameter Names and Values

Get the name and value of a global parameter.

Get List of Global Parameter Names

You can get a list of global parameter names by finding the difference between the Simulink® root parameter and the model parameter names.

Open the example. Then, load the vdp model.

load_system('vdp')

Get the names of all model parameters.

modelparamnames = fieldnames(get_param('vdp','ObjectParameters'));

Get a list of Simulink root parameter names.

rootparamnames = fieldnames(get_param(0,'ObjectParameters'));

Get the names of global parameters by finding the difference between the lists of root and model parameter names.

globalparamnames = setdiff(rootparamnames,modelparamnames);

Get Global Parameter Value

Get the value of a global parameter.

globalparamval = get_param(0,'CurrentSystem')

globalparamval = 
'vdp'

Input Arguments

object — Name, path, or handle of object or root

character vector | cell array of character vectors | string array | numeric scalar | 0

Name, path, or handle of object or root, specified as a character vector, cell array of character vectors, string array, numeric scalar, or 0.

How you specify the target object depends on its type.

• Model — Model name or handle.

• Subsystem — Subsystem name or handle.

• Library — Library name or handle.

• Block — Block path or handle.

• Line — Line handle.

• Port — Port handle.

• Port element — Path composed of the model name or subsystem block path, a forward slash, and the port name or bus element path. For a bus element port, the bus element path provides the hierarchy from the top-level bus to the target element, separating each name in the hierarchy with a dot.

To specify multiple objects with a common parameter, use a cell array of character vectors, a string array, or an array of handles. All the specified objects must have the specified parameter, otherwise, the function returns an error.

Specify 0 to get root parameter names, including global parameters and model parameters for the current Simulink session.

• Global parameters include Editor preferences and Simulink Coder™ parameters.

• Model parameters include configuration parameters, Simulink Coder parameters, and Simulink Code Inspector™ parameters.

Example: 'vdp/Mu'

Example: 'mymodel/Subsystem1/Out1.nonsinusoidal.saw'

Tips

• If you make multiple calls to get_param for the same block, specify the block with a numeric handle. This method is more efficient than using the full block path with get_param. Use getSimulinkBlockHandle to get a block handle.

• Do not try to manually specify the number of a handle, for example, 5.007, because you usually need to specify more digits than MATLAB^® displays. Assign the handle to a variable and use that variable name.

Data Types: char | string | double

parameter — Parameter, property, or attribute name

character vector | string scalar

Parameter, property, or attribute name, specified as a character vector or string scalar. Some names are case sensitive.

This table shows special cases.

Specified Parameter	Result
'ObjectParameters'	Parameter names of the specified object as separate fields in a structure array.
'DialogParameters'	Block dialog box parameter names as separate fields in a structure array. If the block has a mask, the function instead returns the mask parameters.

For information about parameters, properties, or attributes, see the programmatic use information on the corresponding reference pages. For example:

• Models — See the configuration parameter reference pages.

• Blocks — See Common Block Properties and block reference pages.

• Ports — See the Signal Properties tool reference page.

• Port elements — See the In Bus Element and Out Bus Element block reference pages.

Example: 'ObjectParameters'

Example: 'Solver'

Example: 'SimulationCommand'

Example: 'Position'

Example: 'NameLocation'

Data Types: char | string

Output Arguments

value — Parameter value

format determined by parameter type

Parameter value, returned in the format determined by the parameter type. If you specify multiple objects, the output is a cell array.

This table shows special cases.

Specified Parameter	Result
'ObjectParameters'	Parameter names of the specified object as separate fields in a structure array.
'DialogParameters'	Block dialog box parameter names as separate fields in a structure array. If the block has a mask, the function instead returns the mask parameters.

If you get the root parameters by specifying get_param(0,'ObjectParameters'), then the output value is a structure array with the root parameter names as separate fields in the structure. Each parameter field is a structure containing these fields:

• Type — Parameter type values are 'boolean', 'string', 'int', 'real', 'point', 'rectangle', 'matrix', 'enum', 'ports', or 'list'.

• Enum — Cell array of enumeration character vector values that applies only to 'enum' parameter types.

• Attributes — Cell array of character vectors defining the attributes of the parameter. Values are 'read-write', 'read-only', 'read-only-if-compiled', 'write-only', 'dont-eval', 'always-save', 'never-save', 'nondirty', or 'simulation'.

Version History

Introduced before R2006a