To provide high flexibility, incremental code generation is available for Simulink subsystems that contain a TargetLink Function block. Each member of a development team can work on a subsystem individually and generate code only for this subsystem. TargetLink performs the necessary consistency checks when building the overall application.

TargetLink blocks significantly enhance the functionality of the supported Simulink® blocks with additional capabilities for fixed-point simulation. It offers an extended dialog that lets you enter the implementation-specific information necessary for code generation. Each block also provides a means of data logging and overflow detection. A special routine automatically prepares Simulink models for code generation with TargetLink.

The TargetLink Data Dictionary is a central data container that holds the relevant information for a model's design, code generation, and implementation on an ECU. Data Dictionary objects can be referenced from TargetLink models. You can define and manage variables and their properties, and you can specify structured data types and use them for variable declarations. Scaling formulas can be entered and used to uniformly scale fixed-point signals and parameters in the model. You can import and export standardized and proprietary data and use the data with the calibration system.

One of the advantages of model-based development is that you can use simulation for early verification. TargetLink not only generates code for production ECUs, it also greatly simplifies the testing process. Tests are performed in the same simulation environment that was used to specify the underlying simulation model. TargetLink supports the following actions:

• Validating battery algorithms by model-in-the-loop (MIL) simulation
• Validating software by comparing model-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop (SIL) simulations
• Validating processor utilization and speed by processor-in-the-loop (PIL) simulation 

TargetLink is certified by TÜV SÜD (German international certification authority) for use in the development of safety-related systems. TÜV confirmed that TargetLink is suitable for software development according to ISO 26262, IEC 61508, and derived standards (such as EN 50128, which governs safety-related software on the railways). The certification was granted for several areas:

• Software development process and software modification process of TargetLink
• Problem handling procedures
• Fitness for purpose in safety-related development according to IEC 61508 and ISO 26262