Introducing the COMSOL Multiphysics® Model Manager

Benefits of Modeling and Simulation Management

The Model Manager benefits individual users and organizations alike with a structured workspace for collaboration between colleagues and teams, and even with external parties.

Key features:

Model and app management:
- Allows users to centrally organize models and apps
Version control:
- Track changes and updates to models systematically
Efficient storage:
- Store only relevant data of model drafts and revisions
- Store auxiliary data: CAD, mesh, experimental data, etc.
Searching model contents:
- Quickly find all models with a particular set of features or parameters
- Tag and organize models
Access control:
- Allow multiple users to access managed models and data
- Centrally control user access
Connect to a local or remote database

All of this functionality is conveniently accessible within the COMSOL Desktop^® modeling environment.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing the different versions of a Joule heating microactuator model with dates, usernames, branch, and comments.

Features and Functionality in the Model Manager

The Model Manager includes a variety of powerful tools for modeling and simulation management.

A close-up view of the Model Manager with a list of databases to the left.

Model Manager Databases

From the COMSOL Desktop^®, a user can create a new local database on their computer to help them stay organized and keep track of models and auxiliary data files. Alternatively, models and files can be shared amongst colleagues and accessed from multiple devices by uploading them to a server database accessed via a Model Manager server. The capability to use a local Model Manager database is included with all licenses except the class kit license. Connection to a Model Manager server is supported with either the floating network or single-user licenses. With a floating network license, it is also possible to install and run a central Model Manager server.

A close-up view of the search options in the Model Manager.

Powerful Search Functionality

The Model Manager search syntax enables to search deep into models based on their properties, features, settings, and other metadata. It is possible, for example, to perform search queries answering:

Which models use a Time Dependent study step?
Which models have a Length parameter between 5 cm and 15 cm?
Which models were last modified by me?

Additionally, tags used to organize model files can be searched.

A close-up view of the Model Manager with a lamella mixer model selected and the Comparison Result window to the right.

Comparing Model Contents

Any time two COMSOL Multiphysics^® model files stored in a Model Manager database or in a local file system need to be compared, the Compare tool can be used. The results from the comparison show the differences between the models and are displayed in a separate Comparison Result window.

The Compare functionality can be used to identify and correct errors in the current model, document and check differences between two versions of a model under development, and provide the differences between the two model files as an XML file for further processing.

A close-up view of the different versions of a lamella mixer model.

Version Control

The Model Manager comes with standard version control tools, such as viewing the version history of models and auxiliary data files, automatically detecting version conflicts when saving, and comparing versions with each other. For example, an older version can be opened to create a completely new model with its own split-off version history, or to see all the changes made to a model from one version to the next.

When working on an existing model in a database, a draft of the model can be created that is version-controlled in its own right, enabling experimentation with various simulation ideas without polluting the version history of the original model. Once draft work is finished, it can either be kept as a new version of the original model or discarded. More advanced version control tools such as branching, merging, and reverting are also available. Branching enables work on an entire collection of models and auxiliary data files in isolation, while at the same time postponing the decision of whether or not the changes are worth preserving. Reverting enables restoration of models and auxiliary data files that were previously deleted, perhaps by accident.

A close-up view of the auxiliary data for a model and the Model Builder to the left.

Efficient Data Storage

A Model Manager database is tailor-made for the storage needs of a model built in COMSOL Multiphysics^®. The Model Manager makes sure to never store duplicates of simulation data when saving multiple versions of the same model. It is also possible to delete built, computed, and plotted data that may instead be reproduced from the model as needed. This can greatly reduce disk storage, especially for large transient simulations or parametric sweeps.

Auxiliary data files such as CAD files or experimental data files can easily be managed. In the Auxiliary Data window, an overview of all the auxiliary data used in a model is provided, and it is possible to quickly see where in the model an auxiliary data file is used. When a more recent version of an auxiliary data file is available, the option to use the latest file from the database is provided.

The COMSOL Multiphysics UI showing a list of users for a Model Manager database.

Model Manager Server

The Model Manager server is a database system that can be installed anywhere on a local network to host Model Manager databases. A Model Manager server database can be shared by multiple users and enables collaboration between coworkers on version-controlled simulation models and data files — all while staying within the COMSOL Multiphysics^® environment, just like when working with a local Model Manager database.

In addition to providing access to model versions through the COMSOL Desktop^®, the Model Manager server includes a web interface for asset management and user account administration. Through the Model Manager server web interface, administrators can create accounts for users to access the Model Manager server database from the COMSOL Multiphysics^® software. Users can also log in to the web interface to update their own account settings.

Permission settings provide control over who has access to models and auxiliary data files in a Model Manager server database. For example, an administrator can control which users are permitted to open or save a particular model and which users can view and search through a collection of models.

The Model Manager server can either be configured to use internal database components managed by the server or external database components provided and managed by the organization.

Asset Management

The asset management system, which is included with a Model Manager server installation, is a web interface that enables the administration of supplementary files linked to a model or app in the form of an asset. Supplementary files may be reports, presentations, spreadsheet files, and other files or metadata related to a model or app but not directly included in or linked to it. An asset can be seen as a container of models, apps, and any other file related to a modeling and simulation project. The asset management system allows for version control, audit trails, search, and filters, and provides control over permissions for these assets through the Model Manager server.

Managing modeling and simulation projects with the asset management system does not require an installation of the COMSOL Multiphysics^® software. Instead, the interface forms a layer on top of the model-based version-control system for models, apps, and auxiliary and supplementary data files that is accessed from the COMSOL Desktop^® environment.

The Model Manager server web interface for managing assets related to modeling and simulation projects.

Model Manager

Benefits of Modeling and Simulation Management