Temporarily Change Signal Line Names in Simulink

I have a simulink model, the signal line names are currently hand typed. However, all the signal names are also in a seperate excel spreadsheet. The signal names in the spreadhseet change every now and then, and I want the model to automatically reflect that. I want to replace the signal names with a marker, lets say @excelsheetname:linenumber. I know I can grab all the signal names in matlab, then I can import the spreadsheet and replace the marker with the proper name, but how do I maintain the marker, so the next time the model is opened, it can grab the correct signal names again whether they have changed or not?

Answer 1

[Paul]

Hi Dhruv,

At the risk of asking an obvious question, does the workflow require that the model be saved after modifying the generic signal names with the specific signal names from the spreadsheet?

Also, if you don't mind my asking, what causes the signal names in the spreadsheet to change and why does the model have to reflect those signal names. I'm only asking because there may be alternatives to get the desired results.

[Dhruv]

Yes, the model will have to be saved, let me explain a bit more. The signal names are being changed, because they are changing as the embedded hardware is changing. The simulink model will be passed into an embedded compiler and transferred to hardware. The signal names map to specific i/o memory addresses.

[Paul]

Based on that description, it seems like we start with a model that has the generic names, load the model, update the generic signal names with the specific signal names, and then save the model with the specific signal names under a different name. Is that a feasible approach?

[Dhruv]

Yeah that sounds reasonable. The actual names are only needed when I get to the compiler, so this works. Thanks for suggesting this.