Custom blocks

This function allows the user to create its own block

1.  Creating a block

 To create a “Custom block” you need to:

1. Add several blocks to canvas (at least 2), Fig. 1:

Fig. 1 Adding two blocks to canvas

Important

A group of blocks that can be combined into a “Custom block” does not necessarily have to be connected to each other

2. Select the blocks that are to be grouped together, Fig. 2:

Fig. 2 Blocks selection

3. After that, it is necessary to click RMB on one of the blocks and in the window that opens, click LMB on the Create group line, Fig. 3:

Fig. 3 Creating a group

 After that, the selected blocks will be put into “Group [1]”, Fig. 4:

Fig. 4 Group [1]

Note

In order to see what is inside the “Group [1]”, which replaced all selected blocks on canvas, it is necessary to double-click LMB on it, Fig. 5:

Fig. 5 Viewing the “Group [1]”

Important

“Group [1]” does not have to be converted to “Custom block”

 The following settings are available for “Group [1]”:

• Rename by double-clicking LMB on the name “Group [1]” in the right panel;

• Add properties by clicking the Add property button, linking them to blocks within the group. They can also be renamed by double-clicking LMB on the property name;

• Rename parameters by going to the group. Next, you need to specify a custom name for the port blocks and their serial number.

4. In order to complete the creation of a “Custom block”, it is necessary to select a “Group [1]”, right-click RMB on it and select LMB the Save as block line, Fig. 6:

Fig. 6 Completing creation of Custom block

5. In the window that opens, enter:

• “Name” of the user block;

• Name of the “Subsection” this block will be included in. This is done for the convenience of sorting user blocks (You can select an existing subsection from the drop-down list or enter a name for a new one);

• You can enter a “Description” of this user block, which will be displayed when you click on the button in the right panel of working with the block;

• It is also possible to upload your own image for the block by clicking on the Change button.

 After entering all the necessary descriptions, click on the Save button to complete the block creation (see Fig. 7 below). After that, the “Custom block” will appear on the canvas.

Fig. 7 Entering block data

2.  Adding a block

 You can add a “Custom block” using the elementary blocks panel on the left:

• To do this, you need to go to the «My Blocks» tab;

• Clicking on this tab will display a list of all «Subsections» created by the user;

• When you expand the desired «Subsection», a list of user blocks will appear, with which you can transfer the desired block to the canvas, Fig. 8:

Fig. 8 Adding a Custom Block

3.  Editing a block

 To edit the «Custom block» you need to go to it by double-clicking the LMB, after which a new tab will open, Fig. 9:

Fig. 9 Custom block editing

Hint

You can also access editing from the “Projects” page by selecting the “My Blocks” folder, the subsection folder, and then double-clicking LMB on the required block, Fig. 10:

Fig. 10 Alternative transition to editing the Custom Block

 If editing is not necessary, then you should close the “Custom Block” tab by clicking on the button to the right of the name of the tab with the block.

4.  Delete a block

 Deleting a block from the diagram is similar to deleting any other block.

Note

You can completely delete a block on the “Projects” page, Fig. 11:

Fig. 11 Deleting a Custom block

5.  Changing the system parameters of the block

 To change the system parameters of a block:

• Title;

• Subsection;

• Description;

• Image,

press the button «Change the system parameters of the block» in the panel for working with the block located to the right of the canvas, Fig. 12:

Fig. 12 Changing the system parameters of the block

Note

When adjusting the «Description» you can use a small text editor, Fig. 13:

Fig. 13 Text editor

 When working with the block image, it is possible to use a small graphic editor, with which it is possible to:

• scale it;

• rotate, Fig. 14:

Fig. 14 Graphic editor

Important

When a block’s schema is changed, a notification appears informing you that changes have been made. A notification also appears if a block has been deleted, Fig. 15:

Fig. 15 Notification

6.  Ungrouping a Block Group

 To ungroup a group of blocks, you need to:

1. Click RMB to Group;

2. Click LMB to the row Ungroup, Fig. 16:

Fig. 16 Ungrouping

7.  Export block

 To export a “Custom Block”, you must:

1. Click RMB to block you want to export;

2. Click LMB to the row Export block, Fig. 17:

Fig. 17 Export Custom block

Note

After clicking on the Export block button, the file will start downloading to the PC

8.  Import block

 To import a “Custom block” you need to go to the “Projects” page and click the Import project / file button on the top panel, Fig. 18:

Fig. 18 Import button

 Then click on the Import button and select the file, which should have the extension .rpb, Fig. 19:

Fig. 19 Import block

Hint

After successfully importing the block, the following message should appear, Fig. 20:

Fig. 20 Block successfully imported

 If the block import is not required, click Cancel

9.  Replacing the standard icon for the “Group” or “Custom block”

 Blocks have the ability to replace the icon with a custom image. To do this, RMB on the block and select LMB Select image, Fig. 21:

Fig. 21 Select image

 Then select the desired image on your PC.

 Once an image is added, right-clicking on the RMB block will make two options available (see Fig. 22 below):

• Replace image;

• Remove image.

Fig. 22 Replacing/removing an image

Hint

If you delete a custom block image, it will revert to the default block image