MathWorks Release 2012b

MathWorks has introduced Release 2012b with major updates to MATLAB and Simulink that significantly improve use and navigation. The Simulink Editor features tabbed windows, smart signal routing and simulation rewind while the MATLAB Desktop now includes a toolstrip that offers quick access to frequently used features and a MATLAB apps gallery. In addition, Release 2012b includes a redesigned help system with improved browsing, searching, filtering and content organisation.

The Simulink Editor simplifies modelling through capabilities such as tabbed model windows for improved window management; an explorer bar for navigating model hierarchy; smart signal routing to determine optimal signal line path; and debugging capabilities that rewind simulations and set conditional breakpoints on signals.

R2012b also introduces Simulink Projects for managing project files and connecting to source control software, and support for running models on target hardware such as Arduino, Lego Mindstorms NXT, BeagleBoard and PandaBoard.

New capabilities in Stateflow also simplify modelling. The Stateflow Editor is now unified with the Simulink Editor and includes smart guides and transition indicator lines.

MathWorks has also updated the MATLAB Desktop with two major enhancements. The MATLAB Toolstrip displays icons for the most frequently used MATLAB features, such as selecting the best plot type for data, and the apps gallery presents apps from the MATLAB product family to allow users to perform common tasks without writing code.