Hi Modano dev team
Is it technically possible to mirror individual module components? I know it's not a feature in the current version (i'm not sure if it can be achieved using the API?) and a similar outcome can be achieve using Categories Layout Section on a category block but this does not allow (understandingly) categories to be inserted.
T
Hi Tarjei,
The short answer is no. But it wouldn't be hard to add this functionality, as it could leverage the existing duplicate/mirror module functionality.
Where it gets tricky is managing the module linking impacts of duplicating and mirroring components... What would you expect to happen to precedent and dependent module links within the newly-created module component(s) following duplication/mirroring?
Our current view is that a duplicate module component would behave identically to duplicating a single component module...
Is there any good reason why you can't use a single component module as category to achieve the same outcome?
Hi Micheal,
I thought there would a good reason (i.e. the linking impacts). The only scenario I have thought this could be a useful feature is when using Categories Layout Section and have to add a lot of identical rows (i.e. depreciation not using the reverse ticker like the AER PRTM regulatory building block model), but I think what I'l really missing there is the ability to add categories within categories (which I have no doubt has it's own associated issues).
So all in all, no big deal and I agree with your view that this can be worked around to avoid any linking issues. Thanks for your prompt response as always.
T
Hi Tarjei,
I'm sure Mike will jump in on this, but it sounds like you should try and have a look at building "modules as categories". Should be a solution for what you're after.
I can drop in a basic example of this if that helps.
Jun
Hi Jun,
I'd be very interested in a basic example - I have noticed on occasions that adding a category add a whole new module so it would be good to understand the logic behind this better so I can use it with more intention.
Thank you
T
Hi Tarjei,
Sorry mate, was a bit occupied yesterday after my first message.
Here is a very simple example of modules as categories. You can apply the same principle across a whole number of different scenarios / structures.
The key thing to understand is the control module that provides the first level of categories, needs to have this option "Prevent categories being linked into multiple dependent modules during module insertion" checked. You'll find it in the module properties, right down the bottom.
The module then needs the level 1 categories (below) as entities.
Once you have this, then you can create a module that you want to act as the category module.
For this example I just used the scenario of say multiple entities with different "products" as categories, so in this case the entities are the first level category and the products are the second level. There are things you should do like addressing trigger cell blocks to automate naming of modules, but I didn't want to add extra complexity to this simple example.
You will need to tell Modano how you want it to deal with the "category module(s)". In this case, the "category module(s)" are "Revenue Entity" / "Revenue Entity 1".
Once you have this, then you can go into the global controls and centrally manage the number of entities (in this example). Example below, adding a new entity category adds the new mirrored module, retaining links. I added a revenue summary to reflect totals from entities, but you can obviously play around with this.
You can get pretty nifty with how this works like combining unique and repeated links. The extra category layer actually unlocks a lot of options...
Hope that helps, reach out if you have queries, thanks!
Jun
Hey Jun,
Thank you very much for such a substantial example, I'm sure it will be a great learning for a lot of users on this forum.
This is essentially exactly what I was after in my original question - very nifty indeed. I can see multiple uses for this technique already (and I now know which check bx to untick to avoid accedentially creating new modules from my existing category blocks) - amazing stuff!
T