Home
User Guide
Learn about the features and functionality available in Compose.
Languages and IDE
Learn about the supported languages and utilities for coding in Compose.
Compose IDE
The Compose Integrated Development Environment offers many tools which can be used for authoring and debugging operations.
Library Creation and Management in OML for Compose
A library is a self-contained set of files which provides additional functions for the OML language.

Welcome
What's New
Discover new features and enhancements.
Get Started
Discover Compose, including its language support and system requirements.
Tutorials
The Compose tutorials and associated example model files help introduce you to the basic functionality of the software.
User Guide
Learn about the features and functionality available in Compose.
- Invoke Compose
  Run the software using console, GUI, batch and start-up file methods.
- Languages and IDE
  Learn about the supported languages and utilities for coding in Compose.
  - OML Support
    Open Matrix Language is the primary math and scripting language for Compose.
  - Tcl Support
    Compose supports the Tcl scripting language, revision 8.5.9, for editing, execution, and debugging.
  - Python Support
    Compose supports Python 3.8 as a scripting language.
  - R Support
    Compose supports R as a scripting language for both edition and execution.
  - User Profile
    The User Profile tool facilitates a choice of languages for the Compose coding environment.
  - Compose IDE
    The Compose Integrated Development Environment offers many tools which can be used for authoring and debugging operations.
    - Editor
      Use the Editor to create or open script files for authoring and execution.
    - Project Browser
      The Project Browser displays all open files and plots within the current session contents in a hierarchical tree.
    - OML Command Window
      Enter, execute and display the OML commands and script outputs.
    - File Browser
      The File Browser allows for browsing folder contents, adding new files, and deleting existing ones.
    - Command History Window
      The Command History window displays all the commands entered at the command window by date since the last full erase.
    - Demo Browser
      Displays demo files (OML, Python and Tcl scripts) that are present in the installation.
    - Variable Browser
      The Variable Browser displays all the workspace variables along with their value, type, and scope.
    - Property Editor
      The displays information about the item currently selected in the Project Browser.
    - Plot Area
      Execute 2D and 3D plot commands and display plots in a dedicated area.
    - Grid View/Matrix Edition Area
      A matrix can be accessed from the Variable Browser.
    - Bookmarks Window
      The Bookmarks window lists all the bookmarks in the project. Each bookmark is listed along with its host file and the line number.
    - Compose Menus
      Compose contains five menus: File, Edit, View, Tools, and Debug.
    - Library Creation and Management in OML for Compose
      A library is a self-contained set of files which provides additional functions for the OML language.
- Edit Scripts
  Learn how to open, create, and close scripts.
- Run Scripts
  Click Run to execute a script.
- Profile Scripts
  Run files and profile them at the same time.
- Create Plots
  In Compose, you can create 2-D and 3-D plots using OML plotting commands.
- Edit Properties of Plots
  In Compose, you can edit the properties of plots created with OML plotting commands.
- Debug Code
  Use the Debugger to find errors in the script.
- Compose Notebook
  The Compose Notebook is a web-based implementation of Compose’s OpenMatrix Language (OML) into a Jupyter Notebook. Notebooks (see www.jupyter.org) are a powerful way to execute and demonstrate scripted languages.
- Graphical User Interfaces
  Learn about the methods, functions and file input and output options for creating a GUI.
- CAE Applications
- HDF5 Viewer
  Use the HDF5 Viewer to import data and navigate through the hierarchy of .hdf5 files.
- MAT Explorer
  Use the MAT Explorer interface to explore and load variables from one or more .MAT files, providing a visual way to see the contents of selected .MAT files and to import variables into an OML session.
- Signal Viewer
  Use the Signal Viewer to import and treat (basic) signals in both time and frequency domains, as well as generate signals based on the most common waveforms such as step, chirp and sawtooth.
- Plot Assistant
  Use the Plot Assistant to create plots from the various 2D and 3D OML plot types.
- Extension Manager
  Use the Extension Manager to create custom extensions, load extensions automatically, and add custom documentation for defined features.
- OML Functions in HyperWorks Products
  OML functions can be registered from the Compose graphical user interface or via a preference file and later opened in certain HyperWorks products.
- OML Libraries
  Additional libraries can be written in the C/C++ or Fortran language and interfaced with OML.
Reference Guides
Reference guides are available for functions and commands supported by OML, Tcl, and Python.
Appendix
Get help for the optional libraries that are available in the Extension Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
You've got questions? We've got answers!

Library Creation and Management in OML for Compose

A library is a self-contained set of files which provides additional functions for the OML language.

OML Libraries

From a file/delivery standpoint, a library is a folder, usually delivered as a ZIP file. The library content is represented in the image below:

Figure 1. Library Content

Figure 2. Library Content - Folders Expanded

The content (names of folders) is imposed. However, depending on the actual library content, some folders may be empty or even omitted. A functional library only requires the loader.oml (or .omc) script and one of the bin directories or the scripts/oml directory. The foldersthird_party/ and src/ are optional folders:

third_party/ is needed if the code used in a library depends on a third-party library.
src/ may be used by the library creator to include the source code of the OML libraries. The folders demos/ and help/ are optional, too, although strongly recommended. Demos (.oml scripts) placed in the demos/ folder are automatically included by Compose and listed in the Demo Browser. Mandatory elements in a library are:
- loader.oml (or loader.omc)
- Either the scripts/ or bin/ folder (both are permitted).