How can I visualize data with "Display" blocks inside a model reference when running a root-level model in external mode with Simulink Real-Time?

I have a model hierarchy that consists of a root-level model that contains some model references, and inside of the model references, I have some display blocks that are connected to some of my signals so I can visualize my data. If I run the root-level model locally then the "Display" blocks work correctly, however, if I run my root-level model in external mode with Simulink Real-Time then the "Display" blocks appear empty and show no value.

Is this expected behaviour?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This is expected behavior as visualizing data via a "Display" block inside a model reference is not supported when running the root-level model in external mode.

As a workaround to view the data, you can enable signal logging and view it using the Simulink Data Inspector. The documentation page on signal logging in Simulink and the Simulink Data Inspector are linked below:

Signal Logging:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2023a/simulink/ug/exporting-signal-data-using-signal-logging.html

Simulink Data Inspector

https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2023a/simulink/ug/populate-sdi-with-your-data.html

An alternative workaround is to use the "File Log" block which logs the signal at its input port to the target computer file system. The documentation link for the "File Log" block is linked below:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2022a/slrealtime/io_ref/filelog.html