Configure and Manage Variants

R2026b

Define variant configurations and constraints to manage design alternatives across a model hierarchy

Simulink^® models that use variant blocks, variant parameters, or variant transitions can represent many design alternatives. However, switching between them requires managing variant choices across the full model hierarchy. A variant configuration defines a specific combination of those choices, enabling you to activate a complete design without configuring each element individually. Use Variant Manager to visualize the variant hierarchy and create configurations manually or generate them automatically. You can also add constraints to prevent invalid variant combinations and use referenced configurations to compose configurations for top-level models. A Simulink.VariantConfigurations object stores the configurations and constraints for a model.

To understand licensing requirements for Simulink Variant Manager™ workflows, see License Requirements for Simulink Variant Manager.

Apps

Variant Manager

Manage, configure, and analyze system variants (Since R2026b)

Namespaces

Simulink.VariantManager Summary of functions associated with Simulink Variant Manager

Objects

`Simulink.VariantConfigurations`	Create and store variant configurations and constraints
`Simulink.VariantConfigurationAnalysis`	Analyze variant configurations

Functions

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Variant Manager Model‑Level Functions

`Simulink.VariantManager.open`	Open Variant Manager or `Simulink.VariantConfigurations` object (Since R2026a)
`Simulink.VariantManager.activateModel`	Validate and activate variant blocks in model hierarchy (Since R2022b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.updateModel`	Obtain model compilation information and activate variant blocks in model hierarchy (Since R2024b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.applyConfiguration`	Apply specified variant configuration to model (Since R2022b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.findVariantControlVars`	Find variables used in variant control expressions
`Simulink.VariantManager.exportVariantConfigurations`	Export variant configurations object to file (Since R2026b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.generateConfigurations`	Generate variant configurations automatically (Since R2022b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.getVariantConfigurations`	Get variant configurations object associated with model (Since R2022b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.getPreferredConfigurationName`	Get name of preferred variant configuration for model (Since R2022b)
`Simulink.VariantManager.reduceModel`	Generate reduced model for specified variant configurations
`Simulink.VariantManager.analyzeModel`	Analyze variant model for specified variant configurations (Since R2026a)
`Simulink.VariantManager.validateConstraint`	Verify if variant constraint is satisfied by model hierarchy (Since R2025a)

Variant Configuration and Constraint Functions

Variant Configurations

`addConfiguration`	Add new variant configuration to variant configurations object
`addCopyOfConfiguration`	Add copy of existing variant configuration to variant configurations object
`getVariantConfiguration`	Get specific variant configuration from variant configurations object
`removeConfiguration`	Remove variant configuration from variant configurations object
`addControlVariables`	Add variant control variables to named variant configuration in variant configuration object
`getControlVariable`	Get variant control variable from variant configuration (Since R2026b)
`removeControlVariable`	Remove variant control variable from variant configuration
`addConstraint`	Add constraint to variant configurations object
`getConstraint`	Get constraint from variant configurations object (Since R2026b)
`removeConstraint`	Remove constraint from variant configurations object
`setConstraint`	Modify condition and description of existing variant constraint (Since R2026b)
`isConfigActive`	Check if variant configuration is active (Since R2025a)

Referenced Configurations

`addReferencedConfiguration`	Associate top-model variant configuration with variant configuration of referenced model (Since R2022b)
`getReferencedConfigurationName`	Get name of variant configuration used by referenced component in model hierarchy (Since R2023b)
`removeReferencedConfiguration`	Remove association between variant configurations of top-level model and referenced model (Since R2022b)

Preferred Configuration

`setPreferredConfiguration`	Set name of preferred variant configuration for variant configurations object (Since R2022b)
`getPreferredConfiguration`	Get name of preferred variant configuration for variant configurations object (Since R2022b)
`convertDefaultToPreferred`	Convert default variant configuration to preferred variant configuration (Since R2022b)

Model Settings

Variant configuration not used by top model

Diagnostic action to take when variant configuration of a top model does not use an existing variant configuration of a referenced model (Since R2022b)

Topics

Simulink Variant Manager
Use a central tool to manage all variation points in a variant model.
Variant Configurations
Use variant configurations to represent combination of variant choices across model hierarchy.
Create and Activate Variant Configurations
Create and activate variant configurations for a model.
Generate Variant Configurations Automatically
Generate all possible variant configurations for a model.
Compose Variant Configurations and Constraints for Top Model Using Referenced Configurations
Use referenced model configuration to set up variant configuration for a top-level model.
Manage Variant Parameters Using Variant Manager
Learn how to manage variant parameters in your model using Variant Manager.
Variant Manager Workflow to Set Up Variant Configurations for Models
Workflow diagram to set up variant configurations for a model.
Variant Manager Workflow to Manage Existing Variant Configurations in Models
Workflow diagram to manage existing variant configurations for a model.

Related Information

Simulink Variant Manager
Variant System Design

Featured Examples

Manage, Configure, Reduce, and Analyze System Variants with Simulink Variant Manager

Gives an overview of the capabilities of the Simulink Variant Manager app in Simulink.

Open Model

Save and Reuse Variant Configurations Using Variant Configurations Object

Save and load variant configurations object for a model.

Open Model