Hierarchy Window

Navigating the model hierarchy

The Hierarchy window is a fundamental feature in Realvirtual.io that allows users to manage the components of their virtual models. In this view, you can manipulate and organize various components, known as "Gameobjects," within your scene, providing an efficient way to structure and maintain your virtual environment.

In Realvirtual.io, the term "Gameobject" is used interchangeably with the Unity engine's concept of a GameObject. Essentially, a Gameobject represents an object within your virtual scene, encompassing everything from physical entities to more abstract elements.

Within the Hierarchy window, you have the flexibility to add new Gameobjects or remove existing ones through the context menu.

Component Icons

Gameobjects in the Hierarchy window can be enhanced by the addition of various components. Realvirtual.io provides an extensive library of specialized components designed for machinery and automation, including Drives, Sensors, TransportSurfaces, PLC Interfaces, and more. To help users quickly identify these components, standard components are represented by unique icons in the Hierarchy View. These icons serve as visual cues, making it easier to understand the composition of a Gameobject at a glance.

Hiding elements

To maintain a clean and organized workspace, the Hierarchy window includes a convenient feature for hiding elements. Located on the right side of the Hierarchy View, a small switch box allows you to deactivate (and hide) a Gameobject and all of its associated subcomponents. This functionality is particularly useful when working on complex scenes with numerous elements, helping you focus on specific aspects of your virtual model without unnecessary distractions.

PLCInputs and PLCOutputs in Hierarchy

Realvirtual.io organizes automation interfaces of robots, PLCs, and more as signals. It provides multiple interfaces to link your Digital Twin to real automation systems like Siemens, Beckhoff, Rockwell, ABB, and UR Robots. Signals are associated with specific interfaces and can often be auto-imported from PLCs. In the Hierarchy view during simulations, you can see signals and their properties. PLCInputs are read, and PLCOutputs are green. You can interact with boolean signals by forcing or unforcing them to specific values for testing and control.

For a comprehensive understanding of the standard functions and features of the Hierarchy View, we recommend referring to the official Unity documentation.

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